Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Norman leads 14 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Rochester
New York
9
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.
Norman, OK
Pros
55% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $18,693 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 33°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($111,400 vs $224,900)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norman by $18,693/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 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Income
$18,693
$62,849 vs $44,156/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
55% lower
260.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Norman
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Median Home Value
$114k less
$111,400 vs $224,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Norman is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 14 of 23 categories. Norman wins 14 and Rochester wins 9. 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 Norman to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $111,400 median home), income ($62,849 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Rochester, NY are about 1,186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.