Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Phoenix leads 14 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
9
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Households earn $27,936 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($111,400 vs $340,200)
27% less violent crime than Phoenix
Rent averages $327/mo less ($995 vs $1,322)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $27,936/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Median Income
$27,936
$72,092 vs $44,156/yr
Phoenix
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.5% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
21.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
27% lower
582.3 vs 799.6 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$229k less
$111,400 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 14 of 23 categories. Phoenix 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 Phoenix to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $111,400 median home), income ($72,092 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Rochester, NY are about 1,965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.