Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Centennial
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
107,702
Rochester
Minnesota
11
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $40,644 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 23°F
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Rochester
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($268,800 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $731/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,949)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $40,644/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$40,644
$124,617 vs $83,973/yr
Centennial
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
11% lower
154.0 vs 172.8 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$318k less
$268,800 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 52.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Centennial wins 11 and Rochester wins 11. 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 Centennial to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $268,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Rochester, MN are about 707 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.