City Comparison
Apple Valley vs Edina
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Apple Valley scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Apple Valley
Edina
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Apple Valley is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
3% lower than in Edina.
| Metric | Apple Valley | Edina | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $1,750 | -6% |
| Groceries | $420 | $420 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $110 | +18% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $240 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,615 | $2,695 | -3% |
| Cost Index | 108 | 125 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Edina offers 12% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Apple Valley delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Apple Valley is estimated at
$58,000 vs $65,000 in Edina.
| Metric | Apple Valley | Edina |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $82,000 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 66,667 idx | 65,600 idx |
| Household Income | $104,500 | $128,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.2°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Apple Valley sees 2.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Apple Valley | Edina |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 46.90°F | 47.10°F |
| Summer High | 79.20°F | 80.00°F |
| Winter Low | 7.90°F | 7.70°F |
| Rainfall | 42.70 in | 41.70 in |
| Snowfall | 32.90 in | 30.50 in |
| Sunny Days | 256 | 260 |
| Humidity | 66.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Edina has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Apple Valley.
Edina scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Edina leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Apple Valley | Edina |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 46.0/100 |
| Walkability | 38.0/100 | 53.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Apple Valley is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of Edina.
From a growth perspective, Apple Valley is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Edina has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Apple Valley | Edina |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,389 | 53,285 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.40% |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 44.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.40% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Apple Valley
Advantages
Median household income exceeds $104,000, supporting a strong local economy per Census Bureau data (2024).
Consistently low crime rates make Apple Valley one of the safest suburbs in the Twin Cities metro area.
Home to the nationally renowned Minnesota Zoo, offering exceptional family entertainment locally.
Over 50 municipal parks and extensive trail networks provide outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities.
Highly rated local school district (ISD 196) attracts families seeking top-tier education.
Drawbacks
High housing costs and competitive real estate market limit affordability for first-time buyers per Zillow (2025).
Significant car dependency with limited public transit options outside of peak commuter bus routes.
Cold winter temperatures with frequent snowfall require high winter maintenance and heating costs.
Property taxes in Dakota County can be relatively high compared to national averages.
Limited nightlife and entertainment options within city limits require travel to Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Edina
Advantages
Edina Public Schools consistently rank among the top school districts in the state of Minnesota per Niche and state testing data.
Crime rates in Edina are significantly below the national average, making it one of the safest municipalities in the Midwest per FBI crime reports.
The city features over 1,500 acres of parkland and public spaces, including the premier Centennial Lakes Park per the Edina Parks and Recreation Department.
Strategic location offers a commute of under 20 minutes to downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Home to iconic regional shopping and dining destinations like 50th & France and Southdale Center per local municipal economic reports.
Drawbacks
Median home purchase prices and rental rates are considerably higher than the national and state averages per Zillow housing market data.
Property tax rates in Edina reflect high municipal service levels, adding to the overall cost of homeownership per Hennepin County tax records.
The local housing market is highly competitive with limited inventory for first-time homebuyers per recent real estate market summaries.
High reliance on automobiles for daily transit outside of immediate commercial nodes per regional transportation studies.
Strict municipal zoning and architectural codes can increase renovation and building costs for homeowners per Edina city planning documents.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Apple Valley
#131Minnesota, USA
65.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
108
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
38.0/100
Sunny Days
256/yr
Avg Temp
46.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.40%
Livability
80
Business
70
Edina
#238Minnesota, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$82,000
Cost Index
125
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
46.0/100
Walkability
53.0/100
Sunny Days
260/yr
Avg Temp
47.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
91
Business
78
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