Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories
Midland
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 23°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Households earn $6,475 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Rochester, MN
Pros
58% less violent crime than Midland
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $6,475/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$6,475
$90,448 vs $83,973/yr
Midland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.7% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
58% lower
154.0 vs 364.9 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$12k less
$268,800 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories. Midland wins 8 and Rochester wins 14. 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 Midland to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $268,800 median home), income ($90,448 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Rochester, MN are about 979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.