Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
15
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,218)
Homes cost $44k less ($224,900 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 23°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $21,124/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
41% less violent crime than Norman
Households earn $21,124 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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 Norman
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$44k less
$224,900 vs $268,800
Norman
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Median Income
$21,124
$83,973 vs $62,849/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
41% lower
154.0 vs 260.2 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Norman is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Norman 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 Norman to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $268,800 median home), income ($62,849 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Rochester, MN are about 659 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.