Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Glendale leads 17 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
6
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $22,219 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $310,000
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($111,400 vs $310,000)
Rent averages $273/mo less ($995 vs $1,268)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $22,219/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 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$22,219
$66,375 vs $44,156/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
16% lower
488.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.5% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
22.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 82.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Rochester
Median Home Value
$199k less
$111,400 vs $310,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 17 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 17 and Rochester wins 6. 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 Glendale to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $111,400 median home), income ($66,375 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Rochester, NY are about 1,972 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.