55906 and 55057 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
55906
55057
Opportunity
58 · Top 44%
vs60 · Top 39%
Growth
70 · Top 15%
vs59 · Top 35%
Climate
54 · Bottom 2%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
56 · Bottom 48%
vs68 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 35%
vs90 · Top 33%
Schools
69 · Top 28%
vs74 · Top 21%
Access
96 · Top 36%
vs85 · Bottom 29%
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs66 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | 55906 | 55057 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,437 | 25,650 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $93,685 | $92,622 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $53,689 | $39,360 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 332/sq mi | 206/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $377,800 | $363,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,196 | $1,113 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.0% | 74.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.9% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.6% | 50.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 8.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,215 | 28 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.9 | 1.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 156.3% | 133.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 9°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.7" | 31.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 28 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 21.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.1 | 32.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 52.1% | 59.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 58.9% | 62.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 33.8% | 28.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
55906
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding.
55057
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail, tornado.
Full profiles: 55906 — Rochester, MN · 55057 — Northfield, MN · How this is calculated: methodology