Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Rochester
New York
10
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Households earn $25,281 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $300k less ($111,400 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $457/mo less ($995 vs $1,452)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Gresham by $25,281/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 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Income
$25,281
$69,437 vs $44,156/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
30% lower
410.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Gresham
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$300k less
$111,400 vs $411,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 13 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 13 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Gresham to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($69,437 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Rochester, NY are about 2,192 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.