Moving from Prior Lake, MN to Rochester, MN?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is Prior Lake, MN or Rochester, MN Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Prior Lake, MN is safer than Rochester, MN (Safety Score 68/100 vs 56/100), with a total crime rate of 1,179 per 100,000 versus 1,522 for Rochester, MN — 23% lower. Prior Lake has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Prior Lake has a 73% lower rate.
Note: Rochester is 4.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Prior Lake, MN?
Prior Lake — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Rochester — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Prior Lake, MN
Rochester, MN
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Prior Lake | Rochester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,178.9 | 1,522.5 | -343.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 106.5 | 154.0 | -47.5 |
| Murder Rate | 3.6 | 4.1 | -0.5 |
| Rape Rate | 32.0 | 26.1 | +5.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 7.1 | 26.1 | -19.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 63.9 | 97.8 | -33.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,072.3 | 1,368.5 | -296.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 63.9 | 173.6 | -109.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 955.2 | 1,103.6 | -148.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 53.3 | 91.3 | -38.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Prior Lake, MN to Rochester, MN?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prior Lake or Rochester safer?
Prior Lake, MN is safer with a total crime rate of 1,179 per 100K vs 1,522 for Rochester, MN — a 23% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Prior Lake has a violent crime rate of 106.5 per 100K while Rochester has 154.0. Prior Lake has lower violent crime.
About Prior Lake, MN
Prior Lake, Minnesota, a southern suburb of Minneapolis, is named for its large lake and is home to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. It's a growing, affluent community with a median household income significantly above the state average. With a safety score of 68/100 and a population coverage of 28,163, Prior Lake has a total crime rate of 1,178.9 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 56/100 and a population coverage of 122,694, Rochester has a total crime rate of 1,522.5 per 100,000 residents.