Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Carson
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Rochester
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 23°F
Households earn $19,072 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($268,800 vs $616,000)
63% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $597/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.7%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $19,072/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$19,072
$103,045 vs $83,973/yr
Rochester
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
63% lower
154.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$347k less
$268,800 vs $616,000
Rochester
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Rochester
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Carson wins 7 and Rochester wins 15. 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 Carson to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($103,045 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.