Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rialto, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 23 categories
Rialto
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Rochester
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,594 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $307k less ($111,400 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $558/mo less ($995 vs $1,553)
9% less violent crime than Rialto
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $36,594/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
Snowy winters — about 102" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rialto
Median Income
$36,594
$80,750 vs $44,156/yr
Rialto
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
9% lower
582.3 vs 641.7 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$307k less
$111,400 vs $418,300
Rochester
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.5% vs 9.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rialto, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $418,300⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,553⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,750 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3%⚠ High | 8.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.3% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rialto Unified | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,873 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rialto's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 23 categories. Rialto wins 9 and Rochester wins 14. 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 Rialto to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($418,300 vs $111,400 median home), income ($80,750 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rialto, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.