City Comparison
Edina vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Edina scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Edina
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
5% lower than in Edina.
Housing costs are a major driver: Edina's average rent is
21% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Edina | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,450 | +21% |
| Groceries | $420 | $450 | -7% |
| Utilities | $175 | $400 | -56% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $150 | +60% |
| Monthly Total | $2,695 | $2,570 | +5% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Edina offers 27% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Edina delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Edina is estimated at
$65,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Edina | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $82,000 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,600 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $128,500 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Edina runs warmer on average — a 47.1°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Edina comes out ahead with 260 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Edina sees 30.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Edina | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 47.10°F | °F |
| Summer High | 80.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 7.70°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 41.70 in | in |
| Snowfall | 30.50 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 260 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Edina.
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 | Edina | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 46.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 53.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Edina is the larger city
— approximately 1.3x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Grants Pass 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 | Edina | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,285 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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