Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irvine, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Irvine
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,975 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Rochester
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 23°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $757k less ($268,800 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1531/mo less ($1,218 vs $2,749)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $38,975/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Irvine
Median Income
$38,975
$122,948 vs $83,973/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
45% lower
84.0 vs 154.0 per 100k
Irvine
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 85.1°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$757k less
$268,800 vs $1,025,700
Rochester
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,025,700⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,749⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $122,948 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.1% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 40 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 26.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Irvine Unified | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 304,527 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Irvine wins 11 and Rochester wins 11. 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 Irvine to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,025,700 vs $268,800 median home), income ($122,948 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irvine, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.