Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 19 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($141,900 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 23°F
Rent averages $195/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,218)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $33,481/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Households earn $33,481 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$127k less
$141,900 vs $268,800
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Median Income
$33,481
$83,973 vs $50,492/yr
Rochester
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 19 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 7 and Rochester wins 12. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $268,800 median home), income ($50,492 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Rochester, MN are about 924 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Columbus, GA
Rochester, MN vs St. Paul, MN
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Macon-Bibb County, GA
Rochester, MN vs Minneapolis, MN
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Savannah, GA
Rochester, MN vs Hartford, CT
Augusta-Richmond County, GA vs Athens-Clarke County, GA
Rochester, MN vs Clovis, CA