Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories
Albany
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Rochester
Minnesota
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($213,400 vs $268,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 23°F
Rent averages $88/mo less ($1,130 vs $1,218)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $29,237/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
81% less violent crime than Albany
Households earn $29,237 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.1)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$55k less
$213,400 vs $268,800
Albany
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$29,237
$83,973 vs $54,736/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
81% lower
154.0 vs 816.9 per 100k
Rochester
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 52.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 17 of 22 categories. Albany wins 5 and Rochester wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $268,800 median home), income ($54,736 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Rochester, MN are about 941 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.