Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, MN
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Rochester
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($268,800 vs $467,200)
49% less violent crime than Westminster
Rent averages $514/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,732)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $6,678/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Westminster, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 23°F
Households earn $6,678 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Rochester
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
49% lower
154.0 vs 303.6 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$198k less
$268,800 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$6,678
$90,651 vs $83,973/yr
Westminster
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, MN | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $268,800 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,218 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,973 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.1% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rochester Public School District | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 22.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,848 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.5% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 16 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($268,800 vs $467,200 median home), income ($83,973 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, MN and Westminster, CO are about 706 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.