Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $51,224 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($111,400 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $560/mo less ($995 vs $1,555)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $51,224/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$51,224
$95,380 vs $44,156/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
76% lower
137.1 vs 582.3 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.5% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°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
$216k less
$111,400 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton'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, Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories. Carrollton 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 Carrollton to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $111,400 median home), income ($95,380 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Rochester, NY are about 1,258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.