Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Clovis
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
120,607
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.
Clovis, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 23°F
Households earn $14,581 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Rochester
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($268,800 vs $420,700)
37% less violent crime than Clovis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,482)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Clovis
Cons
Median income trails Clovis by $14,581/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Median Income
$14,581
$98,554 vs $83,973/yr
Clovis
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
37% lower
154.0 vs 244.6 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$152k less
$268,800 vs $420,700
Rochester
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Clovis 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 Clovis to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $268,800 median home), income ($98,554 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.