Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
61% less violent crime than Tyler
Households earn $20,917 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $64k less ($205,200 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 23°F
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,218)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $20,917/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Income
$20,917
$83,973 vs $63,056/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
61% lower
154.0 vs 391.2 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$64k less
$205,200 vs $268,800
Tyler
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 20.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 15 and Tyler wins 7. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $205,200 median home), income ($83,973 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Tyler, TX are about 823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.