Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
15
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.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($208,900 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 23°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,218)
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rochester by $18,717/yr
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
90% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $18,717 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$60k less
$208,900 vs $268,800
Kansas City
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 80.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.3 on the COL index
Rochester
Median Income
$18,717
$83,973 vs $65,256/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
90% lower
154.0 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Kansas City wins 7 and Rochester wins 15. 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 Kansas City to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $268,800 median home), income ($65,256 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Rochester, MN are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.