Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $42,603 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($111,400 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $643/mo less ($995 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $42,603/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$42,603
$86,759 vs $44,156/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
56% lower
254.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$272k less
$111,400 vs $383,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Peoria 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 Peoria to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $111,400 median home), income ($86,759 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Rochester, NY are about 1,969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.