Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $24,034/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Rochester, MN
Pros
62% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Households earn $24,034 more per year on average
Homes cost $90k less ($268,800 vs $358,400)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$24,034
$83,973 vs $59,939/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
62% lower
154.0 vs 408.7 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$90k less
$268,800 vs $358,400
Rochester
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories. Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $268,800 median home), income ($59,939 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Rochester, MN are about 960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.