Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Rochester
New York
12
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,462 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $513k less ($111,400 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $858/mo less ($995 vs $1,853)
37% less violent crime than Richmond
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $42,462/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 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Median Income
$42,462
$86,618 vs $44,156/yr
Richmond
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
Rochester
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
37% lower
582.3 vs 923.1 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$513k less
$111,400 vs $624,800
Rochester
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 11 and Rochester wins 12. 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 Richmond to Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $111,400 median home), income ($86,618 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.