Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Households earn $39,529 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.5 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($111,200 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $39,529/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$39,529
$83,973 vs $44,444/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
85% lower
154.0 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
6.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Median Home Value
$158k less
$111,200 vs $268,800
Trenton
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 16 and Trenton wins 6. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $111,200 median home), income ($83,973 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Trenton, NJ are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.