Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Port St. Lucie, FL
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories
Port St. Lucie
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
24% less violent crime than Rochester
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 23°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Median income trails Rochester by $8,933/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Rent averages $466/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,684)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,933 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
24% lower
116.7 vs 154.0 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$8,933
$83,973 vs $75,040/yr
Rochester
Median Home Value
$24k less
$268,800 vs $292,900
Rochester
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Port St. Lucie, FL | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.7⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $292,900 | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,684⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,040 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 33 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.2% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ST. LUCIE | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,520 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 43.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.4% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Port St. Lucie's cost of living index is 101.7 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories. Port St. Lucie wins 10 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 Port St. Lucie to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($292,900 vs $268,800 median home), income ($75,040 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Port St. Lucie, FL and Rochester, MN are about 1,337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.