This report from the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago offers these takeaways:

After analyzing a host of indicators and trends, the key difference is that Minneapolis has maintained a strong economy, far outpacing Chicago and other cities throughout the nation, even during the recession.

For starters, 33 of the nation’s largest 1,000 firms are located in Minneapolis. Thirty-three! While 62 of these firms are located in Chicago, Chicago is a city eight times Minneapolis’ size.

The Metropolitan Planning Council report goes on to say that Minneapolis has the highest percent of workforce population employed in the country and boasts a higher GDP per-capita than Chicago, producing almost $2,000 more for every resident.

Please click here for the full Metropolitan Planning Council story.