Rochester vs Winona
Rochester, Minnesota versus Winona, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Winona edges out Rochester on overall objective livability (52 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Rochester | Winona |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $84k | $53k |
| Cost of Living | $51k | $46k |
| Home Value | $269k | $177k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $773 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.07% | 0.97% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.97% | 15.82% |
| Unemployment | 3.7% | 2.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 15°F | 17°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0 in | 34.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3 in | 37.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 235 days | 216 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 63°F |
| Comfortable Days | 90 days | 84 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 74.5 | 64.1 |
| Air Quality | 54 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 87.7 | 69.8 |
| Violent Crime | 761/100k | 524/100k |
| Property Crime | 1883/100k | 2352/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 120,848 | 26,083 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 30.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.40 | 0.18 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.96 | 0.89 |
| Political Leaning | D+11 | Even |
| White (%) | 72.8% | 88.6% |
| Black (%) | 9.2% | 2.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 5.9% | 3.9% |
| Asian (%) | 7.8% | 2.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.4% | 2.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 14 min |
| Walkability | 7.4/20 | 8.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 72 mi | 96 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.2% | 92.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 26.73 | 31.44 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
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 Rochester or Winona more affordable?
- Winona has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Rochester's $51k and Winona's $46k. Median rent is $1k in Rochester versus $773 in Winona.
- Is Rochester or Winona safer?
- Winona has the lower violent crime rate. Rochester reports 761/100k and Winona reports 524/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Rochester or Winona?
- The median home value is $269k in Rochester and $177k in Winona, so homes are more affordable in Winona.