Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Eugene
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
15
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Median income trails Rochester by $22,492/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($268,800 vs $406,000)
52% less violent crime than Eugene
Households earn $22,492 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.0°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$22,492
$83,973 vs $61,481/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
52% lower
154.0 vs 317.9 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$137k less
$268,800 vs $406,000
Rochester
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Eugene wins 7 and Rochester wins 15. 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 Eugene to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($61,481 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Rochester, MN are about 1,513 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.