Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories
Bellingham
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Rochester
Minnesota
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 23°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Rochester by $19,947/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($268,800 vs $528,600)
56% less violent crime than Bellingham
Households earn $19,947 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,385)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$19,947
$83,973 vs $64,026/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
56% lower
154.0 vs 350.0 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$260k less
$268,800 vs $528,600
Rochester
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.8% unemployment
Rochester
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories. Bellingham wins 5 and Rochester wins 17. 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 Bellingham to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $268,800 median home), income ($64,026 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Rochester, MN are about 1,456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.