City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,372 in Richmond.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Richmond split most clearly. Richmond scores 134 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 $1,372 in Richmond.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Minneapolis is the easier city on typical rent, but Richmond 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. Richmond has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Minneapolis and Richmond are 965 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,372 a month in Richmond, up $1 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $64,587 in Richmond, down $16,259 (20%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 169 in Richmond, down 134 points (44%).
The move
Richmond and Minneapolis are 965 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $1 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $16,259 (25%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 303 in Minneapolis, up 134 points (79%).
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Minneapolis and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 1% cheaper than Richmond
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Richmond
$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,372 in Richmond, so Minneapolis is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $1, or $12 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 Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 25% higher than Richmond
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Minneapolis (about $16,259 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Minneapolis is the stronger labor market on paper. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
44% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 44% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond 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
8% more comfortable
Richmond weather is 8% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Richmond
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond scores 8% 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 1% 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 25% 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 Richmond if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (57°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 8%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Richmond is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Minneapolis (169 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
Minneapolis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (26/100 safety vs 44/100 in Richmond). That 18-point spread matters more than the $1 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $64,587 in Richmond — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Minneapolis and 57°F in Richmond.
If safety drives your move, Richmond is the stronger match (44/100 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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