Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 El Paso leads 16 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
52% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $11,554 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $48k less ($111,400 vs $159,300)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Paso by $11,554/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Income
$11,554
$55,710 vs $44,156/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
52% lower
278.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
El Paso
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
El Paso
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Home Value
$48k less
$111,400 vs $159,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 16 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 16 and Rochester wins 7. 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 El Paso to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $111,400 median home), income ($55,710 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Rochester, NY are about 1,750 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.