Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pueblo, CO
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Pueblo leads 13 of 23 categories
Pueblo
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,794 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
375⚠ High
Population
111,430
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pueblo, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $8,638 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Violent crime (1424.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4942.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($111,400 vs $197,700)
59% less violent crime than Pueblo
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pueblo by $8,638/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pueblo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Pueblo
Median Income
$8,638
$52,794 vs $44,156/yr
Pueblo
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.5% unemployment
Pueblo
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.0°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Violent Crime
59% lower
582.3 vs 1424.1 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$86k less
$111,400 vs $197,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pueblo, CO | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $197,700 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $940 ✓ Lower | $995 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,794 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 319⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 375⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.8% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,430 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pueblo's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Pueblo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pueblo leads 13 of 23 categories. Pueblo wins 13 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Pueblo to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($52,794 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pueblo, CO and Rochester, NY are about 1,447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.