Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
San Jose
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $881k less ($268,800 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1308/mo less ($1,218 vs $2,526)
75% less violent crime than San Jose
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $52,037/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,037 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
75% lower
154.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$881k less
$268,800 vs $1,149,600
Rochester
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
San Jose
Median Income
$52,037
$136,010 vs $83,973/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 14 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($83,973 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and San Jose, CA are about 1,597 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.