Hennepin County vs Ramsey County
Hennepin County, Minnesota versus Ramsey County, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Ramsey County edges out Hennepin County on overall objective livability (42 vs 38 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Hennepin County | Ramsey County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $93k | $78k |
| Cost of Living | $52k | $49k |
| Home Value | $358k | $289k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $333k | $132k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.16% | 1.24% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.03% | 17.13% |
| Unemployment | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 16°F | 16°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 74°F | 74°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.9 in | 32.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 53.0 in | 43.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 182 days | 182 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 98 days | 98 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 98.3 | 94.6 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 49 AQI |
| School Quality | 77.6 | 92.6 |
| Violent Crime | 1422/100k | 1062/100k |
| Property Crime | 3297/100k | 3266/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 1,270,787 | 547,202 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 35.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.50 | 0.57 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.97 |
| Political Leaning | D+44 | D+46 |
| White (%) | 66.9% | 59.6% |
| Black (%) | 13.2% | 11.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.1% | 7.7% |
| Asian (%) | 7.1% | 14.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.8% | 6.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 12.2/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 15 mi | 10 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.5% | 90.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 1.75 | 13.21 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hennepin County or Ramsey County more affordable?
- Ramsey County has the lower cost of living: its index is $49k, compared with Hennepin County's $52k and Ramsey County's $49k. Median rent is $1k in Hennepin County versus $1k in Ramsey County.
- Is Hennepin County or Ramsey County safer?
- Ramsey County has the lower violent crime rate. Hennepin County reports 1422/100k and Ramsey County reports 1062/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Hennepin County or Ramsey County?
- The median home value is $358k in Hennepin County and $289k in Ramsey County, so homes are more affordable in Ramsey County.