Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 13 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848
Simi Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $435k less ($268,800 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1184/mo less ($1,218 vs $2,402)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $28,171/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,171 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 23°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$435k less
$268,800 vs $704,200
Rochester
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Median Income
$28,171
$112,144 vs $83,973/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
16% lower
129.1 vs 154.0 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Simi Valley, 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 | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 13 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 9 and Simi Valley wins 13. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $704,200 median home), income ($83,973 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Simi Valley, CA are about 1,552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.