Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Carson leads 12 of 23 categories
Carson
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Rochester
New York
11
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,889 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $505k less ($111,400 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $820/mo less ($995 vs $1,815)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $58,889/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 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$58,889
$103,045 vs $44,156/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
28% lower
420.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$505k less
$111,400 vs $616,000
Rochester
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carson leads 12 of 23 categories. Carson wins 12 and Rochester wins 11. 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 Carson to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $111,400 median home), income ($103,045 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.