Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Conroe
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
92,475
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Conroe, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $12,343/yr
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
37% less violent crime than Conroe
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,343 more per year on average
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$12,343
$83,973 vs $71,630/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
37% lower
154.0 vs 243.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 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 | 78 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Conroe wins 6 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 Conroe to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $268,800 median home), income ($71,630 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Rochester, MN are about 960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.