Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 21 categories
Riverside
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ 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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($268,800 vs $485,500)
74% less violent crime than Riverside
Rent averages $493/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$525
$83,973 vs $83,448/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
74% lower
154.0 vs 589.7 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$217k less
$268,800 vs $485,500
Rochester
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 21 categories. Riverside wins 5 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 Riverside to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $268,800 median home), income ($83,448 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Rochester, MN are about 1,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.