Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Mesa leads 17 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
6
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $29,610 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.7%)
17% less violent crime than Rochester
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($111,400 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $357/mo less ($995 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 106°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $29,610/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Income
$29,610
$73,766 vs $44,156/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
17% lower
482.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
Mesa
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.5% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
23.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$216k less
$111,400 vs $327,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 17 of 23 categories. Mesa 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 Mesa to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($73,766 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Rochester, NY are about 1,953 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.