Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Springfield
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Households earn $40,523 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($146,400 vs $268,800)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($878 vs $1,218)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 23°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $40,523/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Income
$40,523
$83,973 vs $43,450/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
87% lower
154.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.8% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$122k less
$146,400 vs $268,800
Springfield
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 14 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $146,400 median home), income ($83,973 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Springfield, MO are about 473 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.