Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reno, NV
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Reno leads 15 of 23 categories
Reno
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $28,917 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.0%)
9% less violent crime than Rochester
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($111,400 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($995 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $28,917/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Reno
Median Income
$28,917
$73,073 vs $44,156/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
9% lower
529.6 vs 582.3 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.5% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$351k less
$111,400 vs $462,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reno, NV | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $462,100⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,073 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.2" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.3" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 265,196 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reno's cost of living index is 102.8 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 15 of 23 categories. Reno 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 Reno to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($462,100 vs $111,400 median home), income ($73,073 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reno, NV and Rochester, NY are about 2,181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.