Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Torrance
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $694k less ($268,800 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $914/mo less ($1,218 vs $2,132)
51% less violent crime than Torrance
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $25,581/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,581 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 23°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
51% lower
154.0 vs 311.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$694k less
$268,800 vs $962,300
Rochester
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Rochester
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$25,581
$109,554 vs $83,973/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 12 and Torrance wins 10. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $962,300 median home), income ($83,973 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Torrance, CA are about 1,550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.