Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Rochester leads 18 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
77% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Homes cost $169k less ($268,800 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $550/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 23°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) 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 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$2,736
$83,973 vs $81,237/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
77% lower
154.0 vs 660.6 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$169k less
$268,800 vs $438,100
Rochester
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Rochester
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 73.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 18 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 18 and Santa Maria wins 4. 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $438,100 median home), income ($83,973 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,608 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.