Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($268,800 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $409/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,627)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$8,597
$83,973 vs $75,376/yr
Rochester
Median Home Value
$149k less
$268,800 vs $417,600
Rochester
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 7 and Rochester wins 12. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $268,800 median home), income ($75,376 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Rochester, MN are about 1,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.