Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Rochester
Minnesota
17
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Rochester by $24,044/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($268,800 vs $597,200)
64% less violent crime than El Monte
Households earn $24,044 more per year on average
Rent averages $387/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,605)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$24,044
$83,973 vs $59,929/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
64% lower
154.0 vs 423.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$328k less
$268,800 vs $597,200
Rochester
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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 17 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 5 and Rochester wins 17. 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 El Monte to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $268,800 median home), income ($59,929 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.