Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ 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.
Providence, RI
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $22,608/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
44% less violent crime than Providence
Households earn $22,608 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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
Providence
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$22,608
$83,973 vs $61,365/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
44% lower
154.0 vs 276.7 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$24k less
$268,800 vs $293,000
Rochester
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Providence 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 Providence to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $268,800 median home), income ($61,365 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Rochester, MN are about 1,073 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.