Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Rochester
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Roseville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($268,800 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $722/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,940)
30% less violent crime than Roseville
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $28,292/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,292 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Rochester
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
30% lower
154.0 vs 219.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$328k less
$268,800 vs $596,700
Rochester
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.5% unemployment
Roseville
Median Income
$28,292
$112,265 vs $83,973/yr
Roseville
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Rochester wins 11 and Roseville wins 11. 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 Rochester to Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $596,700 median home), income ($83,973 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Roseville, CA are about 1,530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.