Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,963 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $471k less ($111,400 vs $582,400)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($995 vs $1,369)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $19,963/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 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$19,963
$64,119 vs $44,156/yr
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
4% lower
558.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$471k less
$111,400 vs $582,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 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 | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 37.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles'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, Rochester leads 13 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $111,400 median home), income ($64,119 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.