Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Households earn $4,741 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rochester, NY
Pros
61% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Homes cost $44k less ($111,400 vs $155,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 7.5%)
Median income trails Macon-Bibb County by $4,741/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Income
$4,741
$48,897 vs $44,156/yr
Macon-Bibb County
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Violent Crime
61% lower
582.3 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$44k less
$111,400 vs $155,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Macon-Bibb County leads 12 of 23 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 12 and Rochester wins 11. 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 Macon-Bibb County to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $111,400 median home), income ($48,897 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Rochester, NY are about 788 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.