Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848
Virginia Beach
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $75k less ($268,800 vs $343,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $3,571/yr
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Rochester
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 23°F
Households earn $3,571 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$75k less
$268,800 vs $343,700
Rochester
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$3,571
$87,544 vs $83,973/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
40% lower
92.3 vs 154.0 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 64.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 12 and Virginia Beach wins 10. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $343,700 median home), income ($83,973 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Virginia Beach, VA are about 997 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.