Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
36% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
Households earn $17,490 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 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
Homes cost $39k less ($268,800 vs $307,700)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $17,490/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$17,490
$83,973 vs $66,483/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
36% lower
154.0 vs 242.1 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$39k less
$268,800 vs $307,700
Rochester
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 15 and Spokane Valley wins 7. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $307,700 median home), income ($83,973 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.