Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
16
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $53k less ($215,500 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $26,436/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
83% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $26,436 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$53k less
$215,500 vs $268,800
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$26,436
$83,973 vs $57,537/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
83% lower
154.0 vs 908.7 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Philadelphia wins 6 and Rochester wins 16. 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 Philadelphia to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $268,800 median home), income ($57,537 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Rochester, MN are about 930 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.