Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 12 of 21 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($268,800 vs $415,200)
27% less violent crime than St. George
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,640 more per year on average
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 102°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
St. George, UT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Median income trails Rochester by $14,640/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$14,640
$83,973 vs $69,333/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
27% lower
154.0 vs 210.0 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$146k less
$268,800 vs $415,200
St. George
Summer Heat
21.6°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 55 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, St. George leads 12 of 21 categories. Rochester wins 9 and St. George wins 12. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $415,200 median home), income ($83,973 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and St. George, UT are about 1,203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.