Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Oakland leads 12 of 23 categories
Oakland
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
11
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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,233 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $772k less ($111,400 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($995 vs $1,849)
70% less violent crime than Oakland
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $50,233/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
Oakland
Median Income
$50,233
$94,389 vs $44,156/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
70% lower
582.3 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$772k less
$111,400 vs $883,800
Rochester
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oakland leads 12 of 23 categories. Oakland 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 Oakland to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $111,400 median home), income ($94,389 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.