Head-to-Head · City Comparison
High Point, NC
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 High Point leads 16 of 23 categories
High Point
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,582 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120
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.
High Point, NC
Pros
22% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $14,426 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
More college-educated — 34.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($111,400 vs $196,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails High Point by $14,426/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
High Point
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Income
$14,426
$58,582 vs $44,156/yr
High Point
Violent Crime
22% lower
454.8 vs 582.3 per 100k
High Point
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.5% unemployment
High Point
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Home Value
$85k less
$111,400 vs $196,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | High Point, NC | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $196,500 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,030 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,582 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.3" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,120 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.7 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.1% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
High Point's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
High Point is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, High Point leads 16 of 23 categories. High Point 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 High Point to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,500 vs $111,400 median home), income ($58,582 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
High Point, NC and Rochester, NY are about 512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.