Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Rochester
New York
10
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Households earn $41,787 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($111,400 vs $241,600)
Rent averages $467/mo less ($995 vs $1,462)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $41,787/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 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$41,787
$85,943 vs $44,156/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
54% lower
266.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Aurora
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$130k less
$111,400 vs $241,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 13 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Aurora to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $111,400 median home), income ($85,943 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Rochester, NY are about 552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.