Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ 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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $65k less ($203,900 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 31°F vs 23°F
Rent averages $80/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,218)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $22,339/yr
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
83% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Households earn $22,339 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$65k less
$203,900 vs $268,800
Rochester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$22,339
$83,973 vs $61,634/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
83% lower
154.0 vs 910.1 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 52.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $268,800 median home), income ($61,634 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Rochester, MN are about 350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.