Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,063 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Rochester
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $881k less ($111,400 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1007/mo less ($995 vs $2,002)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $37,063/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
Glendale
Median Income
$37,063
$81,219 vs $44,156/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
51% lower
287.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$881k less
$111,400 vs $992,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 37.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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, Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale 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 Glendale to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $111,400 median home), income ($81,219 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.