Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Minneapolis

You think about moving to Minneapolis but still want to get additional information on the city, overall quality of life, infrastructure, unemployment rate, leisure activities, crime rates and much more?

Great! Stick with me since I will show you all the pros and cons of living in Minneapolis in the following chapters.

Table of Contents

Living in Minneapolis – Overview

ClimateMinneapolis has warm and wet summers with pretty cold and snowy winters.
HousingProperty prices and rents are still fairly low and housing shortage is not a big problem in Minneapolis compared to other major cities like L.A. or NYC.
IncomeMedian household income in Minneapolis is about national average.
CrimeMinneapolis is a rather unsafe city and crime rates are significantly above national average.
EducationSolid schools and colleges in Minneapolis even though you will not find the same world-class education as in Boston or other renowned cities.
Job MarketMinneapolis has a pretty low unemployment rate and most people find decent jobs pretty quickly.
CultureMinneapolis is a culturally interesting place where you can have conversations with people from all over the world.
Leisure ActivitiesFishing, hunting, swimming and hiking are just some of the nice things you can do around Minneapolis.
LandscapeMinneapolis is called the city of lakes and you will therefore find many nice lakes and forests where you can spend lots of time in nature.
InfrastructureMinneapolis has decent public transport and you also find good medical infrastructure while you also find everything you need for daily life.
Level of ToleranceMinneapolis is one of the most tolerant cities in Minnesota.
NightlifeWhile you will find some decent bars, nightlife in Minneapolis is not as great as in other bigger metropolitan areas.
Total Population438,967 inhabitants.
advantages and disadvantages of living in minneapolis

Advantages of Living in Minneapolis

  1. Pretty low unemployment rate in Minneapolis
  2. People can make decent money in Minneapolis
  3. Property prices in Minneapolis are still fairly low
  4. Rents are affordable for the average person
  5. Living costs in Minneapolis are fairly low
  6. Average person can still live the American dream
  7. Financial pressure in Minneapolis is rather low
  8. Minneapolis is not a hectic city
  9. Good medical infrastructure in Minneapolis
  10. Decent public transport in Minneapolis
  11. Minneapolis is excellent for cyclists
  12. People in Minneapolis are friendly and outgoing
  13. Minneapolis is a pretty tolerant city
  14. People in Minneapolis are honest and real
  15. Many nature activities in and around Minneapolis
  16. Many recreational spaces to relax in Minneapolis
  17. Decent bars to hang out after work
  18. Minneapolis has an interesting art scene
  19. You will find lots of interesting architecture
  20. Traffic is not a big problem in Minneapolis
  21. You can experience real seasons in Minneapolis
  22. Decent supply of material goods
  23. Population in Minneapolis has been growing
  24. Many people from other states consider moving to Minneapolis
  25. Great future outlook for Minneapolis
  26. Minneapolis has great tap water
  27. Minneapolis has an international airport
  28. Minneapolis is a dog-friendly city

Pretty low unemployment rate in Minneapolis

One advantage of living in Minneapolis is that unemployment rate in this region is pretty low and this implies that you will most likely find a decent job rather quickly and that you also don’t have to worry about losing your job since you will find a new one pretty soon.

People can make decent money in Minneapolis

Not only unemployment rate in Minneapolis is fairly low, but you can also make pretty good money in this region, at least if you have skills needed in the job market right now and are also willing to work hard so that you can provide lots of value to the corporate world.

Property prices in Minneapolis are still fairly low

Another upside to living in Minneapolis is that property prices are still lower compared to many other big cities in the US and this means that while people moving to San José or other expensive regions have to pay back huge sums of money on their mortgage each month, you in Minnesota will have a more relaxed time in this regard.

Rents are affordable for the average person

Not only property prices are pretty low, but also rents are still affordable for the general public and people therefore don’t have to spend a high fraction of their disposable income on housing in Minneapolis yet.

Living costs in Minneapolis are fairly low

Another reason to move to Minneapolis is that living costs are fairly low in this region and when you go out for a drink or do many other things in your leisure, you will often have to spend far less compared to people living in New York City or other more expensive regions.

Average person can still live the American dream

Since the average person can still afford to buy a decent home and many other amenities for daily life, many people in Minneapolis can still live the American dream while the general public often struggles in this regard in more expensive cities.

Financial pressure in Minneapolis is rather low

Since living and housing costs are fairly low, overall financial pressure in the Minneapolis region is fairly low and this is great since you don’t have to worry about your finances all day long but can rather spend your time on more joyful things instead.

Minneapolis is not a hectic city

You should also know that Minneapolis is not the most hectic city and that you will find many places where you can relax in public on your own without running into people on a regular basis during times you don’t want to get distracted by other people.

Good medical infrastructure in Minneapolis

Another benefit of living in Minneapolis is that the city offers decent medical infrastructure and in case you have to deal with a serious health condition, you will find many good doctors and hospitals where you find specialists who can cure your disease in a pretty efficient manner.

Decent public transport in Minneapolis

Minneapolis also has pretty decent public transport and it is relatively easy to get around by bus or other means of public transport in a reliable manner.

Minneapolis is excellent for cyclists

Not only is Minneapolis considered a city with good public transport, but it is also an excellent city for cyclists and if you live close enough to the city center where distances are rather short, you may not even need a car to get around and you can therefore save lots of money on fuel and can also do good for our environment at the same time.

People in Minneapolis are friendly and outgoing

Another upside to moving to Minneapolis is that most people are friendly and outgoing and it will therefore be pretty easy for you to meet many new people and make really good friends within a rather short period of time.

Minneapolis is a pretty tolerant city

You will also be welcome in Minneapolis no matter where you come from as long as you are a tolerant, friendly and outgoing person and also willing to adapt to local customs and traditions at least a little bit.

People in Minneapolis are honest and real

People in Minneapolis are also more honest and real than in many other big cities where people are often pretty shallow and it will therefore be easier for you to make really good friends in Minneapolis who will really support you during difficult periods of your life.

Many nature activities in and around Minneapolis

Another advantage of moving to Minneapolis is that there are many things to do in nature.

In fact, Minneapolis is surrounded by many nice lakes and forests and you can therefore go fishing, camping, hunting, hiking and do many other exciting things in this region and chances are that you will never run out of ideas regarding how to spend your leisure.

Many recreational spaces to relax in Minneapolis

Minneapolis is also a great city to live in since there are many recreational spaces in Minneapolis.

In turn, this gives you the opportunity to hang out in nice parks or other green spaces during lunch break or after work so you can reload your batteries and unplug from your stressful life for a little bit.

Decent bars to hang out after work

While you will not find the same great nightlife in Minneapolis as in other major cities, you will still have some decent bars and clubs to hang out after work and you can therefore meet up with your favorite people in those locations on a regular basis.

Minneapolis has an interesting art scene

You should also know that Minneapolis has a pretty decent art scene and also many museums and galleries where you can spend your time in case you are an artist or just interested in art in general.

You will find lots of interesting architecture

There are also many interesting buildings in Minneapolis and you will find lots of interesting architecture.

Hence, if you are an architect or just interested in architecture in general, you may also find many ideas in this regard in Minneapolis.

Traffic is not a big problem in Minneapolis

Since Minneapolis is not the most crowded city, traffic is not a big problem yet and this means that you will be able to get around by car in a pretty efficient manner without having to deal with traffic jams as often as people living in Los Angeles or other more crowded places and you will also have an easier time finding a parking lot.

You can experience real seasons in Minneapolis

While people living in tropical climatic zones often have to deal with hot weather all year long, you will be able to experience real seasons in Minneapolis and can experience nice warm summers while you can still enjoy pretty cold winters and are also able to go skiing or do other winter sports.

Decent supply of material goods

Since Minneapolis offers decent public infrastructure, the supply of material goods is also pretty decent and you will just find everything you need to live a happy life and don’t have to drive to other cities to get your stuff as would often be the case if you moved to smaller towns.

Population in Minneapolis has been growing

Another indicator that Minneapolis can be a great place to live is that population in Minneapolis has been growing significantly over the past decade and the city seems to become increasingly popular by people from all over the US.

Many people from other states consider moving to Minneapolis

Since Minneapolis becomes increasingly popular, many people from other states who currently live in more expensive regions consider moving to Minneapolis since they would be able to enjoy decent quality of life at a rather low price compared to other big metropolitan areas where living and housing costs are often much higher.

Great future outlook for Minneapolis

Since population is growing and Minneapolis is the biggest city in Minnesota, you also don’t have to worry that the city will lose its importance anytime soon and you will therefore have pretty high quality of life in this region for many decades.

Minneapolis has great tap water

Since Minneapolis has great tap water, you also don’t have to rely on bottled water from the store and this can save you lots of money and also time in the long run.

Minneapolis has an international airport

Moving to Minneapolis can also make sense in case you are a globetrotter and want to travel the world quite often since Minneapolis has a big international airport and you can therefore get around in a pretty efficient manner without having to deal with layovers much.

Minneapolis is a dog-friendly city

You should also know that Minneapolis is a dog-friendly city and you can therefore just walk down the streets with your dog and meet many like-minded people so that you can make many social contacts in a pretty natural manner.

As you can see, there are many reasons for moving to Minneapolis.

Yet, it is still not all sunshine and we also have to talk about the drawbacks of moving to Minneapolis in the following so that you can get a much better idea of whether you still want to move to Minneapolis or rather want to live in a different region instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Minneapolis

  1. Minneapolis is not the safest city
  2. Pretty poor air quality in Minneapolis
  3. Many dodgy neighborhoods in Minneapolis
  4. Minneapolis is not located at the coast
  5. Nightlife in Minneapolis is not great
  6. Cold winters may become annoying
  7. Hard to find world-class education in Minneapolis
  8. Increasing level of inequality
  9. Homelessness is a big problem in Minneapolis
  10. Housing shortage may become a serious problem in the future
  11. Not many fancy shopping opportunities in Minneapolis
  12. You may miss the feeling of big city life

Minneapolis is not the safest city

One downside to living in Minneapolis is that crime rates are pretty high and many people just don’t feel safe in this region anymore.

In turn, if you have kids, you may not want to move to Minneapolis but rather want to move to Virginia Beach or other safer regions instead.

Pretty poor air quality in Minneapolis

You should also know that Minneapolis has pretty poor air quality and this may adversely affect your overall quality of life and may also lead to serious health problems in the long run.

Many dodgy neighborhoods in Minneapolis

Another problem with moving to Minneapolis is that there are also many dodgy neighborhoods and if you are not careful and don’t inform yourself in this regard, chances are that you will end up in one of those places and may get into serious trouble sooner or later.

Minneapolis is not located at the coast

Since Minneapolis is not located at the coast, you will have a much harder time going surfing compared to people living in Long Beach or other places directly located at the beach and your overall quality of life may just be much lower due to that.

Nightlife in Minneapolis is not great

While you will find some decent bars, nightlife in Minneapolis is still not as great as in NYC or other major metropolitan regions and if you are young and a party person, chances are that you will get pretty disappointed with nightlife in Minneapolis in the long run.

Cold winters may become annoying

You should also keep in mind that winters are pretty cold in Minneapolis and if you are a person who rather loves the heat and wants to enjoy warm weather all year long, you will be better off moving to Dallas or other warmer regions instead.

Hard to find world-class education in Minneapolis

Another disadvantage of moving to Minneapolis is that you will also have a pretty hard time finding world-class education while people living in Boston or other more prestigious places have a much better selection in this regard.

Increasing level of inequality

You should also know that the gap between the poor and the rich is increasing in Minneapolis and if this trend continues, crime rates may increase even further and this may also lead to all sorts of other social problems.

Homelessness is a big problem in Minneapolis

There are also many homeless people in Minneapolis who are no longer able to afford to pay for rent and many people live below the poverty line in general and you may therefore feel guilty when you see those poor people on a daily basis which may greatly lower your own quality of life in the long run.

Housing shortage may become a serious problem in the future

While property prices and rents are still fairly low, this may change in the near future since population in Minneapolis is growing and this also leads to increasing demand for housing and higher property prices and rents sooner or later.

Not many fancy shopping opportunities in Minneapolis

Moving to Minneapolis is also not a great idea in case you are a shopping queen since you will just not find many fancy locations in this regard.

You may miss the feeling of big city life

While Minneapolis is a big city, you may still miss the feeling of big city life you may be used to from NYC or other major metropolitan regions and if you want to be at the heart of the universe and want to have action 24/7, Minneapolis may not be the best city to live in for you.

Top 10 Moving To Minneapolis Pros & Cons – Summary List

Living in Minneapolis ProsLiving in Minneapolis Cons
Minneapolis has a strong economyHigh crime rates in Minneapolis
Unemployment rate is pretty lowIncreasing level of inequality
Decent income level in MinneapolisPoor air quality in Minneapolis
Many nature activities to choose fromHousing shortage may become a problem
Decent public transport in MinneapolisNot many great shopping options in Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a bike-friendly cityMinneapolis is not located at the coast
Easy to get around by carCold winters may be annoying
Real seasons make your life interestingSocial tensions are about to increase
Minneapolis is a tolerant cityNightlife is not great in Minneapolis
Many recreational spaces in MinneapolisHard to find really good education

Is Minneapolis A Good Place To Live?

Minneapolis can be a great place to live since property prices are fairly low, income levels are decent and you can also spend lots of time in beautiful nature. However, you should also know that crime rates are pretty high and that you will not find the same high-quality education as in many other major cities.

Alternative Cities To Live In

If you don’t want to move to Minneapolis anymore, you should also have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Miami

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Oakland

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Memphis

Sources

https://www.minneapolismn.gov/

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/minneapoliscityminnesota

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.

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