Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem 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
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($111,400 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($995 vs $1,224)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $23,384/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 6.1%)
Salem, OR
Pros
Households earn $23,384 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$238k less
$111,400 vs $349,500
Salem
Median Income
$23,384
$67,540 vs $44,156/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
9% lower
532.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Salem
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 15 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 8 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $349,500 median home), income ($44,156 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Salem, OR are about 2,229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.