Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
13
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.
Madison, WI
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 28°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Median income trails Rochester by $9,078/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
40% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $58k less ($268,800 vs $326,600)
Households earn $9,078 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.7% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$9,078
$83,973 vs $74,895/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
40% lower
154.0 vs 256.0 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$58k less
$268,800 vs $326,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Madison 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 Madison to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $268,800 median home), income ($74,895 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Rochester, MN are about 165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.