Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($268,800 vs $423,500)
61% less violent crime than Sparks
Rent averages $308/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,526)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Sparks, NV
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$1,035
$83,973 vs $82,938/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
61% lower
154.0 vs 394.4 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$155k less
$268,800 vs $423,500
Rochester
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ 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 | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 17 and Sparks wins 5. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $423,500 median home), income ($83,973 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Sparks, NV are about 1,429 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.