Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Green Bay leads 16 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,846
Rochester
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
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.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $15,018 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Rochester
Rent averages $131/mo less ($864 vs $995)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($111,400 vs $172,700)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 25°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Green Bay by $15,018/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 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Income
$15,018
$59,174 vs $44,156/yr
Green Bay
Violent Crime
15% lower
495.1 vs 582.3 per 100k
Green Bay
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Median Home Value
$61k less
$111,400 vs $172,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 16 of 23 categories. Green Bay 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 Green Bay to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($59,174 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Rochester, NY are about 525 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.