Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Rochester
New York
6
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $57,609 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($111,400 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $357/mo less ($995 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $57,609/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$57,609
$101,765 vs $44,156/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
87% lower
78.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Home Value
$255k less
$111,400 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 17 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 17 and Rochester wins 6. 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 Hoover to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $111,400 median home), income ($101,765 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Rochester, NY are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.