Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 13 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Rent averages $650/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $119k less ($268,800 vs $387,900)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $48,274/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $48,274 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Rochester
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 23°F
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 30.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$119k less
$268,800 vs $387,900
Rochester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Median Income
$48,274
$132,247 vs $83,973/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
49% lower
78.0 vs 154.0 per 100k
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 13 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 9 and Sugar Land wins 13. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $387,900 median home), income ($83,973 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Sugar Land, TX are about 1,011 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.