Minneapolis also has an incredible local music scene (greatly bolstered by The Current[0] and Radio K[1]). If it weren't for the weather, Minneapolis would be a lot higher on city "tier" lists.
I'm from the Minnesota. I lived in Minneapolis from age 18 to very recently. I played in bands, my friends played it bands, etc. But let me tell you, after 10 years in that town you realize it really is very small.
@msutherl is completely right. If you have any creative bent outside of pop culture even a town the size of Minneapolis does not really provide the kind of creative stimulation you need. The kind of diversity and culture mixing that comes from a metropolis like NYC is on a whole other level entirely.
(By the way, the current is a crap radio station and they haven't played anything other than indie top 40 for years. Radio-K is cool, but every town with a university has a college radio station </hipster>)
[0] http://www.thecurrent.org/ [1] http://www.radiok.org/