City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 110 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Minneapolis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Durham is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Durham has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Minneapolis and Durham are 975 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $137 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $81,619 in Durham, up $773 (1%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 193 in Durham, down 110 points (36%).
The move
Durham and Minneapolis are 975 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $137 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $80,846 in Minneapolis, down $773 (1%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 303 in Minneapolis, up 110 points (57%).
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Minneapolis and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 9% cheaper than Durham
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,508 in Durham, so Minneapolis is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $137, or $1,644 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Durham's median income is 1% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
$80,846
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Durham (about $773 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 36% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% lower in Durham. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Durham is the easier city. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Durham weather is 15% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 15% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Minneapolis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Minneapolis
Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,371 a month. Choose Minneapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Minneapolis (193 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Durham scores 40/100 versus 26/100 in Minneapolis. Rent is $1,508/month in Durham and $1,371/month in Minneapolis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (40/100 in Durham vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is ahead on safety (40/100 vs 26/100); Minneapolis is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,371/month rent plus $80,846 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Minneapolis and Durham, plus other cities in MN and NC.
