Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Households earn $53,723 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($111,400 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $866/mo less ($995 vs $1,861)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $53,723/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 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$53,723
$97,879 vs $44,156/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
85% lower
85.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$380k less
$111,400 vs $491,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 15 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 15 and Rochester wins 8. 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 Norwalk to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $111,400 median home), income ($97,879 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Rochester, NY are about 259 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.