City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 159 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 $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Minneapolis is the easier city on typical rent, but Glendale can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Glendale has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Minneapolis and Glendale are 1,279 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $157 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $73,530 in Glendale, down $7,316 (9%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 144 in Glendale, down 159 points (52%).
The move
Glendale and Minneapolis are 1,279 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $157 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $7,316 (10%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 303 in Minneapolis, up 159 points (110%).
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Minneapolis and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 10% cheaper than Glendale
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,528 in Glendale, so Minneapolis is 10% 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 $1,884, 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 Glendale.
Planning to buy in Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 10% higher than Glendale
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Glendale
$73,530
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $73,530 in Glendale, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Minneapolis (about $7,316 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
52% lower crime
Glendale's crime index is 52% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in Glendale. 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, Glendale 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
35% more comfortable
Glendale weather is 35% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Glendale
Winner81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°F (87°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Glendale averages around 81°F. Glendale scores 35% 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 10% 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 10% 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 Glendale if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (81°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 35%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Glendale is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Glendale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than Minneapolis (144 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 Glendale: Glendale scores 49/100 versus 26/100 in Minneapolis, with typical rent at $1,528 versus $1,371. I would vet the exact ZIP in Minneapolis before trading 23 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (49/100 in Glendale vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,528 in Glendale.
If safety drives your move, Glendale is the stronger match (49/100 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.
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