Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Lubbock
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($181,600 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 23°F
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,218)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $25,239/yr
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
81% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $25,239 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Lubbock
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$87k less
$181,600 vs $268,800
Lubbock
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Median Income
$25,239
$83,973 vs $58,734/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
81% lower
154.0 vs 821.0 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 17.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ 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 | B+ (108) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Lubbock wins 9 and Rochester wins 13. 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 Lubbock to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $268,800 median home), income ($58,734 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Rochester, MN are about 881 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.