Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Chicago leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
9
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $27,517 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than Rochester
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($111,400 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $319/mo less ($995 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $27,517/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
Snowy winters — about 102" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$27,517
$71,673 vs $44,156/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
7% lower
539.8 vs 582.3 per 100k
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$193k less
$111,400 vs $304,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago'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, Chicago leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 14 and Rochester wins 9. 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 Chicago to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $111,400 median home), income ($71,673 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Rochester, NY are about 521 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.