Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $42k less ($227,200 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $29,533/yr
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Rochester
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
61% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Households earn $29,533 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$42k less
$227,200 vs $268,800
Bridgeport
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.4°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$29,533
$83,973 vs $54,440/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
61% lower
154.0 vs 392.9 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
5.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Bridgeport wins 6 and Rochester wins 16. 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 Bridgeport to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $268,800 median home), income ($54,440 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Rochester, MN are about 997 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.