Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
114,237
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
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.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($210,800 vs $268,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (223.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 23°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rochester, MN
Pros
31% less violent crime than Broken Arrow
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 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 4% higher than Broken Arrow
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$58k less
$210,800 vs $268,800
Broken Arrow
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Median Income
$1,426
$83,973 vs $82,547/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
31% lower
154.0 vs 223.1 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories. Broken Arrow wins 10 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 Broken Arrow to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $268,800 median home), income ($82,547 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Rochester, MN are about 578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.