Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories
Antioch
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016
Rochester
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 23°F
Households earn $6,736 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $570,900
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Rochester
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($268,800 vs $570,900)
Rent averages $932/mo less ($1,218 vs $2,150)
75% less violent crime than Antioch
Commutes run 28 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.7%)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Antioch
Cons
Median income trails Antioch by $6,736/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Antioch
Median Income
$6,736
$90,709 vs $83,973/yr
Antioch
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
75% lower
154.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$302k less
$268,800 vs $570,900
Rochester
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories. Antioch wins 8 and Rochester wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Antioch to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $268,800 median home), income ($90,709 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.