Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
16
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 23°F
Homes cost $40k less ($229,000 vs $268,800)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $12,929/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
34% less violent crime than Garland
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Households earn $12,929 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Home Value
$40k less
$229,000 vs $268,800
Garland
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$12,929
$83,973 vs $71,044/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
34% lower
154.0 vs 232.7 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Garland 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 Garland to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($71,044 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Rochester, MN are about 799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.