Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Austin
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 23°F
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $2,583 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($268,800 vs $461,500)
67% less violent crime than Austin
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,549)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Median income trails Austin by $2,583/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$2,583
$86,556 vs $83,973/yr
Austin
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
67% lower
154.0 vs 466.9 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$193k less
$268,800 vs $461,500
Rochester
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Austin wins 9 and Rochester wins 13. 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 Austin to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $268,800 median home), income ($86,556 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Rochester, MN are about 991 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.