Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Chandler leads 17 of 22 categories
Chandler
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Households earn $55,218 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($111,400 vs $423,900)
Rent averages $680/mo less ($995 vs $1,675)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 106°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Chandler
Cons
Median income trails Chandler by $55,218/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Median Income
$55,218
$99,374 vs $44,156/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
77% lower
133.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
23.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 101.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$313k less
$111,400 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 17 of 22 categories. Chandler wins 17 and Rochester wins 5. 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 Chandler to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $111,400 median home), income ($99,374 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Rochester, NY are about 1,963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.