Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Irving leads 13 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
Households earn $32,530 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($111,400 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $428/mo less ($995 vs $1,423)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $32,530/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
Irving
Median Income
$32,530
$76,686 vs $44,156/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
53% lower
275.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.5% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$148k less
$111,400 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 37.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 13 of 23 categories. Irving 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 Irving to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $111,400 median home), income ($76,686 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Rochester, NY are about 1,267 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.