City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 216 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 $1,641 in Garland.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Minneapolis is the easier city on typical rent, but Garland can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Minneapolis at $1,371 average has pockets that run $1,171 and others at $1,771: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Minneapolis and Garland are 853 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $270 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $76,320 in Garland, down $4,526 (6%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 87 in Garland, down 216 points (71%).
The move
Garland and Minneapolis are 853 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $270 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $4,526 (6%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 303 in Minneapolis, up 216 points (248%).
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Minneapolis and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 16% cheaper than Garland
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,641 in Garland, so Minneapolis is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,240, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Minneapolis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Garland.
Planning to buy in Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 6% higher than Garland
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Garland
$76,320
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $76,320 in Garland, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Minneapolis (about $4,526 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
71% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 71% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Garland. 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, Garland 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
39% more comfortable
Garland weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Garland
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Garland sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland scores 39% 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% 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.
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Garland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 39%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Garland is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Minneapolis (87 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Garland: Garland scores 64/100 versus 26/100 in Minneapolis, with typical rent at $1,641 versus $1,371. I would vet the exact ZIP in Minneapolis before trading 38 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in Garland vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,641 in Garland.
If safety drives your move, Garland is the stronger match (64/100 safety versus 26/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Minneapolis, treat $1,371/month rent and $80,846 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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