Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 14 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992
San Antonio
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($111,400 vs $198,000)
Rent averages $194/mo less ($995 vs $1,189)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Antonio by $15,437/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 5.9%)
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Households earn $15,437 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Violent Crime
2% lower
582.3 vs 594.1 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$87k less
$111,400 vs $198,000
San Antonio
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Income
$15,437
$59,593 vs $44,156/yr
San Antonio
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.5% unemployment
San Antonio
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $198,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $59,593 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 14 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 9 and San Antonio 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 Rochester to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $198,000 median home), income ($44,156 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and San Antonio, TX are about 1,493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.