Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
St. Paul
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
75% less violent crime than St. Paul
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $14,054 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rochester by $14,054/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$14,054
$83,973 vs $69,919/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
75% lower
154.0 vs 617.7 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 23.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 13 and St. Paul wins 9. 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. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $264,900 median home), income ($83,973 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and St. Paul, MN are about 72 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.