Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ 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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 23°F
Homes cost $34k less ($235,000 vs $268,800)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $23,533/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
87% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $23,533 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Home Value
$34k less
$235,000 vs $268,800
Houston
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$23,533
$83,973 vs $60,440/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
87% lower
154.0 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Houston 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 Houston to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($60,440 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Rochester, MN are about 996 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.