Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($268,800 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $923/mo less ($1,218 vs $2,141)
47% less violent crime than Vacaville
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $22,791/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,791 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Rochester
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
47% lower
154.0 vs 293.2 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$292k less
$268,800 vs $560,400
Rochester
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Median Income
$22,791
$106,764 vs $83,973/yr
Vacaville
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 15 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 15 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $560,400 median home), income ($83,973 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Vacaville, CA are about 1,573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.