Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470
Rochester
New York
13
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
33% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $10,284 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 8.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Rochester
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($111,400 vs $227,200)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($995 vs $1,369)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (8.5%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Bridgeport by $10,284/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 102" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Income
$10,284
$54,440 vs $44,156/yr
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
33% lower
392.9 vs 582.3 per 100k
Rochester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$116k less
$111,400 vs $227,200
Rochester
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
8.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 8.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 10 and Rochester wins 13. 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 Bridgeport to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $111,400 median home), income ($54,440 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Rochester, NY are about 265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.