Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ 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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $554k less ($268,800 vs $822,600)
79% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $573/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,791)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.7%)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$7,729
$83,973 vs $76,244/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
79% lower
154.0 vs 728.5 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$554k less
$268,800 vs $822,600
Rochester
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $268,800 median home), income ($76,244 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.