Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Rent averages $368/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,586)
Homes cost $69k less ($268,800 vs $337,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $7,915/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 23°F
Households earn $7,915 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$69k less
$268,800 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Median Income
$7,915
$91,888 vs $83,973/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
15% lower
130.7 vs 154.0 per 100k
Round Rock
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 3.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 92 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 14 and Round Rock wins 8. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $337,500 median home), income ($83,973 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Round Rock, TX are about 974 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.