Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories
Lakeland
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
64% less violent crime than Rochester
Homes cost $61k less ($207,800 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 23°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $25,683/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Households earn $25,683 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Violent Crime
64% lower
56.0 vs 154.0 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$61k less
$207,800 vs $268,800
Lakeland
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$25,683
$83,973 vs $58,290/yr
Rochester
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories. Lakeland wins 10 and Rochester wins 12. 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 Lakeland to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $268,800 median home), income ($58,290 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Rochester, MN are about 1,247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.