Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Households earn $36,716 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 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
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $238/mo less ($980 vs $1,218)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 23°F
Homes cost $41k less ($228,300 vs $268,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $36,716/yr
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Income
$36,716
$83,973 vs $47,257/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
72% lower
154.0 vs 553.4 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$41k less
$228,300 vs $268,800
Tuscaloosa
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 16 and Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $228,300 median home), income ($83,973 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 791 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.