Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
73% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,614)
Households earn $19,929 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.7%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 23°F
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Median income trails Rochester by $19,929/yr
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$19,929
$83,973 vs $64,044/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
73% lower
154.0 vs 575.8 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$56k less
$268,800 vs $324,800
Rochester
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 16 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $324,800 median home), income ($83,973 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.