Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Duluth compared to Rochester? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Duluth | Metric | Rochester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | Cost of Living Index | 96 | +6.7% |
| $235,000 | Median Home Price | $295,000 | +25.5% |
| $950 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,150 | +21.1% |
| $52,800 | Median Household Income | $78,500 | +48.7% |
| 1.3% | Property Tax Rate | 1.2% | -7.7% |
| 3.8% | Unemployment Rate | 2.7% | -28.9% |
| 19 min | Average Commute | 18 min | -5.3% |
| 35.2 | Median Age | 35.8 | +1.7% |
| 295,000 | Metro Population | 225,000 | -23.7% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Duluth costs $1,511/month (PITI) compared to $1,873/month in Rochester — a difference of $362/month or $4,344/year. The price-to-income ratio is 4.5x in Duluth versus 3.8x in Rochester, suggesting Rochester is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 5.9 years to save a down payment in Duluth compared to 5.0 years in Rochester.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Duluth | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $52,800 | $78,500 |
| State Income Tax | $1,748 | $3,496 |
| Federal Income Tax | $4,207 | $8,719 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,040 | $6,005 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,055/yr | $3,540/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Total Tax Burden | $9,995 (18.9%) | $18,220 (23.2%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $42,805 | $60,280 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $9,995 in Duluth (18.9% effective) versus $18,220 in Rochester (23.2% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $42,805 in Duluth and $60,280 in Rochester. Property taxes add $3,055/year on the median Duluth home versus $3,540/year in Rochester.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $52,800 in Duluth (COL 90) and relocate to Rochester (COL 96), you would need $56,320 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $3,520 to maintain the same standard of living in Rochester.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Duluth is 19 minutes versus 18 minutes in Rochester, a difference of 1 minutes each way. Rochester's lower unemployment rate of 2.7% versus 3.8% suggests a stronger job market. Rochester skews slightly older with a median age of 35.8 vs 35.2 in Duluth.
Rochester is 6.7% more expensive than Duluth overall. Rochester has a cost of living index of 96 compared to 90 for Duluth (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $295,000 in Rochester vs $235,000 in Duluth.
The median home price in Rochester is $295,000, which is $60,000 more than Duluth's median of $235,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,150/month in Rochester vs $950/month in Duluth, a difference of $200/month or $2,400/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $52,800 salary in Duluth is equivalent to $56,320 in Rochester. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Duluth's COL index of 90 vs Rochester's 96. Conversely, $78,500 in Rochester equals $73,594 in Duluth.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $9,995 (18.9% effective rate) in Duluth vs $18,220 (23.2% effective rate) in Rochester. Property taxes on the median home are $3,055/year in Duluth (1.3% rate) vs $3,540/year in Rochester (1.2% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.9% in Minnesota and 6.9% in Minnesota.
Duluth median household income: $52,800/yr. Rochester median household income: $78,500/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $950 in Duluth vs $1,150 in Rochester. Annualized that is $11,400 vs $13,800.
Duluth offers a lower cost of living (index 90 vs 96), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Rochester typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Duluth and Rochester numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Duluth vs Rochester cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .