City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 204 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 $1,619 in Irving.
Irving 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 Irving is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Irving has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Minneapolis and Irving are 863 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $248 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $81,830 in Irving, up $984 (1%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 99 in Irving, down 204 points (67%).
The move
Irving and Minneapolis are 863 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $248 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $80,846 in Minneapolis, down $984 (1%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 303 in Minneapolis, up 204 points (206%).
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Minneapolis and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 15% cheaper than Irving
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,619 in Irving, so Minneapolis is 15% 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 $2,976, 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 Irving.
Planning to buy in Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Irving's median income is 1% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
$80,846
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Irving (about $984 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
67% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 67% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in Irving. 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, Irving 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
Irving weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving 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
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 15% 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 ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Minneapolis (99 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 Irving: Irving scores 60/100 versus 26/100 in Minneapolis, with typical rent at $1,619 versus $1,371. I would vet the exact ZIP in Minneapolis before trading 34 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (60/100 in Irving vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,619 in Irving.
Irving clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Minneapolis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Minneapolis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Minneapolis and Irving, plus other cities in MN and TX.
