Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $32,176 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($111,400 vs $328,700)
50% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $272/mo less ($995 vs $1,267)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 22°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $32,176/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$32,176
$76,332 vs $44,156/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
50% lower
582.3 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$217k less
$111,400 vs $328,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 11 and Rochester wins 12. 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 $111,400 median home), income ($76,332 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Rochester, NY are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.