Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Garland, TX
Pros
Households earn $26,888 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($111,400 vs $229,000)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($995 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cons
Median income trails Garland by $26,888/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$26,888
$71,044 vs $44,156/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
60% lower
232.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.5% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$118k less
$111,400 vs $229,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland 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 Garland to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $111,400 median home), income ($71,044 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Rochester, NY are about 1,249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.