Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
15
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
87% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Homes cost $60k less ($268,800 vs $328,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$7,641
$83,973 vs $76,332/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
87% lower
154.0 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$60k less
$268,800 vs $328,700
Rochester
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 22.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Minneapolis wins 7 and Rochester wins 15. 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 Minneapolis to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $268,800 median home), income ($76,332 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Rochester, MN are about 76 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.