Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
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.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 33°F
Households earn $6,336 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $31k less ($111,400 vs $141,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Augusta-Richmond County by $6,336/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Income
$6,336
$50,492 vs $44,156/yr
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Home Value
$31k less
$111,400 vs $141,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 11 and Rochester wins 9. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $111,400 median home), income ($50,492 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Rochester, NY are about 719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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