Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ 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.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Median income trails Rochester by $17,617/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Rochester, MN
Pros
64% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Homes cost $97k less ($268,800 vs $365,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Households earn $17,617 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
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
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$17,617
$83,973 vs $66,356/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
64% lower
154.0 vs 429.8 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$97k less
$268,800 vs $365,300
Rochester
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $268,800 median home), income ($66,356 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Rochester, MN are about 1,313 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.