Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Goodyear leads 16 of 23 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Rochester
New York
7
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Households earn $53,151 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $396,100
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($111,400 vs $396,100)
Rent averages $716/mo less ($995 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Goodyear
Cons
Median income trails Goodyear by $53,151/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Median Income
$53,151
$97,307 vs $44,156/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
69% lower
182.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Goodyear
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Goodyear
Summer Heat
24.9°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$285k less
$111,400 vs $396,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 16 of 23 categories. Goodyear 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 Goodyear to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $111,400 median home), income ($97,307 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Rochester, NY are about 1,990 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.