Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Allen leads 15 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $77,103 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($111,400 vs $390,200)
Rent averages $752/mo less ($995 vs $1,747)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $77,103/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$77,103
$121,259 vs $44,156/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
82% lower
106.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.5% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$279k less
$111,400 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 15 of 23 categories. Allen wins 15 and Rochester wins 8. 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 Allen to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $111,400 median home), income ($121,259 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Rochester, NY are about 1,243 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.