Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 New York leads 13 of 23 categories
New York
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $32,451 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.6%)
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $621k less ($111,400 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $719/mo less ($995 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
13% less violent crime than New York
15% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails New York by $32,451/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 7.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Median Income
$32,451
$76,607 vs $44,156/yr
New York
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
13% lower
582.3 vs 671.0 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$621k less
$111,400 vs $732,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 37.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 13 of 23 categories. New York 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 New York to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $111,400 median home), income ($76,607 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Rochester, NY are about 256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.