City comparison
Yes. Portland's crime index is 265 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 207 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Portland and Minneapolis are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,655 in Portland and $1,371 in Minneapolis, and median household income lands at $90,919 versus $80,846. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Portland 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 Portland is the stronger move.
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
Portland and Minneapolis are 1,423 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $284 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $80,846 in Minneapolis, down $10,073 (11%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 303 in Minneapolis, up 38 points (14%).
The move
Minneapolis and Portland are 1,423 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $284 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $90,919 in Portland, up $10,073 (12%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 265 in Portland, down 38 points (13%).
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Portland and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 17% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,655 in Portland, so Minneapolis is 17% 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 $3,408, 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 Portland.
Planning to buy in Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Portland's median income is 12% higher than Minneapolis
Portland
Winner$90,919
Minneapolis
$80,846
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Portland (about $10,073 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, Portland is the stronger labor market on paper. Minneapolis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
13% lower crime
Portland's crime index is 13% lower than Minneapolis
Portland
Winner265 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Portland's crime index is 265 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Portland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Portland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Minneapolis. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Portland weather is 19% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Portland
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Portland scores 19% 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 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 12% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Portland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Minneapolis (265 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.
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 17% 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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,371/month in Minneapolis versus $1,655 in Portland. Median income reads $80,846 in Minneapolis and $90,919 in Portland, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Minneapolis rent at $1,371/month is still below Portland's $1,655, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Portland and 55°F in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Portland deserves a serious look only when your $90,919 income offer in Portland outweighs saving $284/month in Minneapolis.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Portland when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and Minneapolis, plus other cities in OR and MN.
