Houston vs Minneapolis
Compare Houston, TX and Minneapolis, MN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,301/mo in Houston and $1,324/mo in Minneapolis, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,357/mo and $1,622/mo. State income tax also separates them — Houston's rate is roughly 0% versus 9.8%. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (262 vs 252 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Houston runs summer highs near 94°F and winter lows near 42°F, while Minneapolis runs 83°F and -3°F. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Minneapolis screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (57 vs 38/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Houston; if walkable daily life matters more, Minneapolis screens stronger on the walkability proxy (23 vs 22). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Houston leads 71 to 50 on the cost and climate screen.
Minneapolis leads 83 to 78 on the work screen.
Houston leads 55 to 51 on the daily life screen.
Minneapolis leads 68 to 58 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Houston is roughly $55,378 in Minneapolis using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Houston | Minneapolis | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,301/mo | $1,324/mo | Houston |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,357/mo | $1,622/mo | Houston |
| Median home value | $254,000 | $334,000 | Houston |
| State income tax | None | 9.8% | Houston |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 26.8 min | Minneapolis |
| Safety score | 31/100 | 67/100 | Minneapolis |
| School score | 6/10 | 9/10 | Minneapolis |
| Walkability estimate | 22/100 | 23/100 | Minneapolis |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 181.2 | 157.8 | Houston |
| Mountain distance | 299 mi | 240 mi | Minneapolis |
| Coast distance | 19 mi | 914 mi | Houston |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 38/100 | 57/100 | Minneapolis |
| Hurricane risk percentile (NRI) | 85th | 0th | Minneapolis |
| Coastal flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 78th | 0th | Minneapolis |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 16th | 57th | Houston |
What stands out
Houston stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Trail access within 45 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
Houston tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Minneapolis stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 11 miles
Minneapolis tradeoffs
- High top marginal state income tax
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Houston cheaper than Minneapolis?
On public benchmarks Houston is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,301/mo in Houston vs $1,324/mo in Minneapolis; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,357/mo vs $1,622/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 9.8%.
Is Houston or Minneapolis safer?
Minneapolis screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 31/100 for Houston and 67/100 for Minneapolis (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Houston or Minneapolis?
School screens show 6/10 for Houston vs 9/10 for Minneapolis, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Houston and Minneapolis?
Houston: summer highs near 94°F, winter lows near 42°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Minneapolis: 83°F / -3°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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