Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Concord
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480
Violent Crime Index
42
Population
105,335
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
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.
Concord, NC
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 53°F vs 23°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$19k less
$268,800 vs $288,100
Rochester
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Concord wins 9 and Rochester wins 13. 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 Concord to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $268,800 median home), income ($83,480 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Rochester, MN are about 865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.