City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Raleigh and Minneapolis split most clearly. Raleigh scores 161 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Raleigh 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 Raleigh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Minneapolis are 996 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $201 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $80,846 in Minneapolis, down $4,549 (5%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 303 in Minneapolis, up 161 points (113%).
The move
Minneapolis and Raleigh are 996 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $201 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $4,549 (6%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 142 in Raleigh, down 161 points (53%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 13% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Minneapolis is 13% 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 $2,412, 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 Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Raleigh's median income is 6% higher than Minneapolis
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Minneapolis
$80,846
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $80,846 in Minneapolis, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Raleigh (about $4,549 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
53% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 53% lower than Minneapolis
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
19% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 19% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh 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 6% higher ($85,395), 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.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Minneapolis (142 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 13% 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Raleigh: Raleigh scores 49/100 versus 26/100 in Minneapolis, with typical rent at $1,572 versus $1,371. I would vet the exact ZIP in Minneapolis before trading 23 safety points for housing savings.
Raleigh still pays more locally ($85,395 median income vs $80,846), which can offset the lease if your field pays Raleigh rates.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Raleigh and 55°F in Minneapolis.
Pick Raleigh when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Minneapolis's case rests on a Minneapolis ZIP you trust at $1,371 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Raleigh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Minneapolis, plus other cities in NC and MN.
