Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Downey
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Rochester
Minnesota
16
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $410k less ($268,800 vs $679,000)
67% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $596/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,814)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
67% lower
154.0 vs 460.5 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$410k less
$268,800 vs $679,000
Rochester
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Downey 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 Downey to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($84,236 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.