Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 12 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($268,800 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,723)
35% less violent crime than The Woodlands
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $58,411/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $58,411 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 23°F
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.7%)
Longer commutes — 28.2 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
Violent Crime
35% lower
154.0 vs 235.4 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$188k less
$268,800 vs $456,400
Rochester
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
The Woodlands
Median Income
$58,411
$142,384 vs $83,973/yr
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | The Woodlands, 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 | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 12 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 10 and The Woodlands 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 The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $456,400 median home), income ($83,973 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and The Woodlands, TX are about 971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.