Is Austin or Rochester Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Rochester is safer than Austin (Safety Score 55/100 vs 47/100), with a total crime rate of 1,522 per 100,000 versus 1,793 for Austin — 15% lower. Austin has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Austin has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Rochester is 4.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Austin — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Rochester — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Austin, MN
Rochester, MN
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Austin | Rochester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,792.8 | 1,522.5 | +270.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 191.1 | 154.0 | +37.1 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.1 | -4.1 |
| Rape Rate | 42.1 | 26.1 | +16.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 22.9 | 26.1 | -3.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 126.2 | 97.8 | +28.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,601.7 | 1,368.5 | +233.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 168.2 | 173.6 | -5.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,315.0 | 1,103.6 | +211.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 118.5 | 91.3 | +27.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin or Rochester safer?
Rochester is safer with a total crime rate of 1,522 per 100K vs 1,793 for Austin — a 15% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Austin has a violent crime rate of 191.1 per 100K while Rochester has 154.0. Rochester has lower violent crime.
About Austin, MN
Austin, Minnesota, the "Spam Town USA" and home of Hormel Foods, is a small city in Mower County, near the Iowa border. Its population is around 25,000, with a notable manufacturing workforce. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 26,160, Austin has a total crime rate of 1,792.8 per 100,000 residents.
About Rochester, MN
Rochester, Minnesota, home to the Mayo Clinic, is a city in southeastern Minnesota. Its population of over 120,000 makes it the state's third-largest city. With a safety score of 55/100 and a population coverage of 122,694, Rochester has a total crime rate of 1,522.5 per 100,000 residents.