Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Livonia leads 12 of 22 categories
Livonia
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60
Population
94,928
Rochester
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Livonia, MI
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,485 more per year on average
Homes cost $20k less ($249,000 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 30°F vs 23°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
32% less violent crime than Livonia
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $8,485/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$8,485
$92,458 vs $83,973/yr
Livonia
Median Home Value
$20k less
$249,000 vs $268,800
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
32% lower
154.0 vs 228.1 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Livonia leads 12 of 22 categories. Livonia wins 12 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Livonia to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($92,458 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Rochester, MN are about 472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.