Owatonna vs Rochester
Owatonna, Minnesota versus Rochester, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Owatonna edges out Rochester on overall objective livability (51 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Owatonna | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $78k | $84k |
| Cost of Living | $47k | $51k |
| Home Value | $217k | $269k |
| Monthly Rent | $925 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.32% | 1.07% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 16.20% | 15.97% |
| Unemployment | 3.6% | 3.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 16°F | 15°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 71°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.5 in | 37.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.2 in | 52.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 235 days | 235 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 95 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 64.7 | 74.5 |
| Air Quality | 43 AQI | 54 AQI |
| School Quality | 97.2 | 87.7 |
| Violent Crime | 758/100k | 761/100k |
| Property Crime | 1038/100k | 1883/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 26,400 | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 36.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.23 | 0.40 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.00 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | R+23 | D+11 |
| White (%) | 84.6% | 72.8% |
| Black (%) | 4.2% | 9.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.3% | 5.9% |
| Asian (%) | 0.3% | 7.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.5% | 4.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 6.8/20 | 7.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 54 mi | 72 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.9% | 90.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 21.97 | 26.73 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Owatonna or Rochester more affordable?
- Owatonna has the lower cost of living: its index is $47k, compared with Owatonna's $47k and Rochester's $51k. Median rent is $925 in Owatonna versus $1k in Rochester.
- Is Owatonna or Rochester safer?
- Owatonna has the lower violent crime rate. Owatonna reports 758/100k and Rochester reports 761/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Owatonna or Rochester?
- The median home value is $217k in Owatonna and $269k in Rochester, so homes are more affordable in Owatonna.