Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 16 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($111,400 vs $337,500)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($995 vs $1,586)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $47,732/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 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Households earn $47,732 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 42.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Home Value
$226k less
$111,400 vs $337,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.7 on the COL index
Round Rock
Median Income
$47,732
$91,888 vs $44,156/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
78% lower
130.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 16 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 7 and Round Rock wins 16. 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 Rochester to Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $337,500 median home), income ($44,156 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Round Rock, TX are about 1,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.