Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Bellevue
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $65,578 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $871k less ($268,800 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1204/mo less ($1,218 vs $2,422)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $65,578/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$65,578
$149,551 vs $83,973/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
10% lower
138.6 vs 154.0 per 100k
Rochester
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$871k less
$268,800 vs $1,139,500
Rochester
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Bellevue 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 Bellevue to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $268,800 median home), income ($149,551 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Rochester, MN are about 1,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.