Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
15
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($192,000 vs $268,800)
Rent averages $325/mo less ($893 vs $1,218)
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 23°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $34,782/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Households earn $34,782 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 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
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$77k less
$192,000 vs $268,800
Cincinnati
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.6°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$34,782
$83,973 vs $49,191/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
82% lower
154.0 vs 845.6 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($49,191 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Rochester, MN are about 532 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.