Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992
Sacramento
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($111,400 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $597/mo less ($995 vs $1,592)
23% less violent crime than Sacramento
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $34,798/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 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,798 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
23% lower
582.3 vs 754.9 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$339k less
$111,400 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$34,798
$78,954 vs $44,156/yr
Sacramento
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.5% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 8 and Sacramento wins 15. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($44,156 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Sacramento, CA are about 2,287 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.