Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
San Angelo
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040
Violent Crime Index
57
Population
99,422
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
29% less violent crime than San Angelo
Households earn $18,933 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 97°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than San Angelo
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($171,700 vs $268,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 23°F
Rent averages $181/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,218)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $18,933/yr
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Income
$18,933
$83,973 vs $65,040/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
29% lower
154.0 vs 218.2 per 100k
San Angelo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$97k less
$171,700 vs $268,800
San Angelo
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 3.7% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $1,037 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $65,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 17.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 57 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 61.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 99,422 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 13 and San Angelo wins 9. 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 San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $171,700 median home), income ($83,973 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and San Angelo, TX are about 971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.