Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Pasadena
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ 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.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($171,600 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 23°F
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rochester by $19,275/yr
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
73% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Households earn $19,275 more per year on average
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$97k less
$171,600 vs $268,800
Pasadena
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$19,275
$83,973 vs $64,698/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
73% lower
154.0 vs 566.1 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Pasadena 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 Pasadena to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $268,800 median home), income ($64,698 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and Rochester, MN are about 1,003 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.