Is Rochester cheaper than Denver?

Yes. Typical rent in Rochester is $870 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 58% cheaper. Median household income is $71,580 in Rochester compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Rochester or Denver?

Rochester is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 78 versus 137 in Denver — 43% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Rochester or Denver?

School composites are close: A- in Rochester and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Rochester, MN vs Denver, CO

Rochester, MN versus Denver, CO is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $870 a month in Rochester and $2,089 in Denver, and median household income lands at $71,580 versus $85,853. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Rochester takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Denver takes job market. The widest gap is rent, where Rochester leads by 58% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Rochester can feel further apart than Rochester and Denver do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Rochester and Denver reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Rochester report Full Denver report

Rochester, MN

Rent: $870/mo
Median income: $71,580
Crime index: 78
Schools: A-
Weather: 66°F

Denver, CO

Rent: $2,089/mo
Median income: $85,853
Crime index: 137
Schools: A-
Weather: 82°F

Rent

58% cheaper

Rochester rent is 58% cheaper than Denver

Rochester

Winner

$870/mo

Denver

$2,089/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $870 a month in Rochester versus $2,089 in Denver, so Rochester is 58% cheaper. That's roughly $1,219/month back in your pocket — $14,628/year. Over five years that's $73,140 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Rochester is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

20% higher

Denver's median income is 20% higher than Rochester

Rochester

$71,580

Denver

Winner

$85,853

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,853 in Denver versus $71,580 in Rochester, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Denver — about $14,273 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Rochester can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

43% lower crime

Rochester's crime index is 43% lower than Denver

Rochester

Winner

78 (100 = avg)

Denver

137 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Rochester's crime index is 78 versus 137 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in Rochester. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Rochester is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Rochester and Denver are about even on school scores.

Rochester

A- · 84/100

Denver

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Rochester, A- in Denver). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

29% more comfortable

Rochester weather is 29% more comfortable than Denver

Rochester

Winner

66°F typical

Denver

82°F typical

What this means for your life

Rochester scores 29% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 66°F in Rochester and 82°F in Denver. Rochester reads as mild, livable temperatures; Denver reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Rochester is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Denver can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Rochester

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Rochester is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 58% cheaper here at about $870 a month. Choose Rochester if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Rochester if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 29%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Rochester is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Rochester is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Denver (78 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Rochester report →

Fit check

Who should choose Denver

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($85,853). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Denver report →

Bottom line

Rochester vs Denver, called

If cost of living is your priority, Rochester is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Denver pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Rochester offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Rochester vs Denver FAQ

Is Rochester cheaper than Denver?: Yes. Typical rent in Rochester is $870 a month versus $2,089 in Denver — 58% cheaper. Median household income is $71,580 in Rochester compared with $85,853 in Denver, so Denver has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Rochester or Denver?: Rochester is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 78 versus 137 in Denver — 43% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Rochester or Denver?: School composites are close: A- in Rochester and A- in Denver. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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