Minneapolis MN vs Provo UT — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Minneapolis, MN

Minnesota · Population: 426,845

  • Median HH Income$80,269
  • Median Home Price$334,719
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+54.4%

Provo, UT

Utah · Population: 114,303

  • Median HH Income$62,800
  • Median Home Price$486,127
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+45.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Minneapolis
426,845
Minneapolis +
Provo
114,303
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Minneapolis
N/A
Provo
N/A
Median Age
Minneapolis
33.0
Provo
23.7
Provo +
Foreign Born
Minneapolis
14.1%
Minneapolis +
Provo
12.2%
White
Minneapolis
61.6%
Provo
78.6%
Provo +
Black
Minneapolis
18.3%
Minneapolis +
Provo
1.1%
Asian
Minneapolis
5.2%
Minneapolis +
Provo
2.2%
Hispanic
Minneapolis
10.5%
Provo
18.9%
Provo +
Spanish at Home
Minneapolis
N/A
Provo
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Minneapolis
$80,269
Minneapolis +
Provo
$62,800
Per Capita Income
Minneapolis
$50,605
Minneapolis +
Provo
$26,755
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Minneapolis
$69,467
Minneapolis +
Provo
$60,713
Unemployment Rate
Minneapolis
5.7%
Provo
4.7%
Provo +
Poverty Rate
Minneapolis
16.4%
Minneapolis +
Provo
22.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Minneapolis
54.4%
Minneapolis +
Provo
45.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Minneapolis
$334,719
Minneapolis +
Provo
$486,127
Homeownership Rate
Minneapolis
48.0%
Minneapolis +
Provo
39.9%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Minneapolis
284
Provo
245
Provo +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Minneapolis
1992
Provo
1931
Provo +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Minneapolis
28.6%
Minneapolis +
Provo
30.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Minneapolis
7.4%
Provo
6.1%
Provo +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Minneapolis
17.1%
Minneapolis +
Provo
21.5%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Minneapolis
9.9%
Minneapolis +
Provo
12.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Minneapolis
19.8%
Provo
8.7%
Provo +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Minneapolis
12.7%
Provo
7.0%
Provo +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Minneapolis
46.3°F
Minneapolis +
Provo
53.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Minneapolis
30.6 in
Provo
19.8 in
Provo +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Minneapolis
8.1 µg/m³
Provo
7.0 µg/m³
Provo +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Minneapolis
75.0%
Provo
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Minneapolis
24.2 min
Provo
20.1 min
Provo +

Which City is Right for You?

Minneapolis leads in median household income at $80,269, while minneapolis offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $334,719. On public safety, Provo is safer with a violent crime rate of 245 per 100,000 residents, compared to 284 in Minneapolis. Provo has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and Provo has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.0 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Minneapolis scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Minneapolis & Provo