Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Tucson
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
74% less violent crime than Tucson
Households earn $31,924 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($218,200 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 23°F
Rent averages $227/mo less ($991 vs $1,218)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $31,924/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$31,924
$83,973 vs $52,049/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
74% lower
154.0 vs 588.8 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Median Home Value
$51k less
$218,200 vs $268,800
Tucson
Summer Heat
19.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 14 and Tucson wins 8. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $218,200 median home), income ($83,973 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Tucson, AZ are about 1,288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.