Duluth vs Rochester
Compare Duluth, MN and Rochester, MN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Duluth is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $909/mo versus $1,115/mo in Rochester — a gap of about $206/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,113/mo against $1,148/mo. Across the four public-data screens Rochester comes out ahead (232 vs 217 summed points), though Duluth still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 76°F and 83°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Duluth; if walkable daily life matters more, Rochester screens stronger on the walkability proxy (12 vs 9). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Both cities are close on the daily life screen.
Rochester leads 61 to 48 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Duluth is roughly $56,667 in Rochester using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Duluth | Rochester | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $909/mo | $1,115/mo | Duluth |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,113/mo | $1,148/mo | Duluth |
| Median home value | $194,000 | $267,000 | Duluth |
| State income tax | 9.8% | 9.8% | Tie |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 22.1 min | Duluth |
| Safety score | 61/100 | 61/100 | Tie |
| School score | 6/10 | 9/10 | Rochester |
| Walkability estimate | 9/100 | 12/100 | Rochester |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 149.9 | 168.7 | Rochester |
| Mountain distance | 106 mi | 284 mi | Duluth |
| Coast distance | 851 mi | 872 mi | Duluth |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 19/100 | 19/100 | Tie |
| Coastal flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 69th | 0th | Rochester |
| Tornado risk percentile (NRI) | 39th | 90th | Duluth |
| Drought risk percentile (NRI) | 37th | 82th | Duluth |
What stands out
Duluth stronger signals
- Trail access within 33 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 0 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Duluth tradeoffs
- High top marginal state income tax
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Rochester stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 31 miles
- Strong education proxy
- Shorter average commute
Rochester tradeoffs
- High top marginal state income tax
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Duluth cheaper than Rochester?
On public benchmarks Duluth is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $909/mo in Duluth vs $1,115/mo in Rochester; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,113/mo vs $1,148/mo; state income tax is 9.8% vs 9.8%.
Is Duluth or Rochester safer?
Duluth screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 61/100 for Duluth and 61/100 for Rochester (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Duluth or Rochester?
School screens show 6/10 for Duluth vs 9/10 for Rochester, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Duluth and Rochester?
Duluth: summer highs near 76°F, winter lows near -5°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Rochester: 83°F / 1°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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