Question 1

Is Rochester, MN or St. Cloud, MN cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

St. Cloud, MN is cheaper. The median home price in Rochester, MN is approximately $270,300 and in St. Cloud, MN it is approximately $246,600 — a difference of $23,700.

Question 2

Is Rochester, MN or St. Cloud, MN more walkable?

Accepted Answer

Rochester, MN is more walkable. Rochester, MN has a Walk Score of 20/100 and St. Cloud, MN has a Walk Score of N/A/100.

Question 3

Which has better schools, Rochester, MN or St. Cloud, MN?

Accepted Answer

St. Cloud, MN has higher-rated schools. Rochester, MN has a school rating of 4.4/10 and St. Cloud, MN has a rating of 5.3/10.

Question 4

Should I live in Rochester, MN or St. Cloud, MN?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	Rochester, MN	St. Cloud, MN
Housing
Verdict	Good for now	Good for now
Median Price	$270K	$247K ✓ Lower price
Median Rent	$1K	$982 ✓ Lower rent
Median Income	$86K ✓ Higher income	$66K
Price Volatility	Moderate	Low ✓ More stable
Getting Around
Walk Score	20/100 ✓ More walkable	Car-dependent
Transit Score	Minimal transit	30/100 ✓ Better transit
Bike Score	18/100 ✓ More bikeable	N/A
Commute	103 min	78 min ✓ Shorter commute
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+	D+
Violent Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Property Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Good	Good
Community
Schools	4.4/10	5.3/10 ✓ Better schools
Best for	remote workersfamiliessmall‑city lifestyle seekers	Families with childrenCollege students or staff at St. Cloud StateRetirees seeking low cost of living

Rochester, MN vs St. Cloud, MN

Bottom line