Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 21 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
16
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rochester, MN
Pros
78% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Homes cost $114k less ($268,800 vs $383,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Rent averages $246/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,464)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$4,947
$83,973 vs $79,026/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
78% lower
154.0 vs 715.6 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$114k less
$268,800 vs $383,000
Rochester
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 52.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 21 categories. Colorado Springs wins 5 and Rochester wins 16. 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 Colorado Springs to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($79,026 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Rochester, MN are about 728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.