Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 18 of 22 categories
Renton
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Rochester
Minnesota
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 23°F
Households earn $8,319 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $308k less ($268,800 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $646/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,864)
55% less violent crime than Renton
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $8,319/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$8,319
$92,292 vs $83,973/yr
Rochester
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
55% lower
154.0 vs 339.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$308k less
$268,800 vs $576,800
Rochester
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.2% unemployment
Rochester
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 18 of 22 categories. Renton wins 4 and Rochester wins 18. 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 Renton to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $268,800 median home), income ($92,292 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Rochester, MN are about 1,444 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.