Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories
Kent
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 23°F
Households earn $2,993 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($268,800 vs $478,400)
69% less violent crime than Kent
Rent averages $524/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.7%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Median income trails Kent by $2,993/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$2,993
$86,966 vs $83,973/yr
Rochester
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
69% lower
154.0 vs 489.7 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$210k less
$268,800 vs $478,400
Rochester
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories. Kent wins 5 and Rochester wins 17. 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 Kent to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $268,800 median home), income ($86,966 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Rochester, MN are about 1,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.