Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 San Leandro leads 12 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $661k less ($111,400 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $1002/mo less ($995 vs $1,997)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $52,985/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 5.0%)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,985 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.0%)
6% less violent crime than Rochester
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 83°F
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$661k less
$111,400 vs $772,700
Rochester
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$52,985
$97,141 vs $44,156/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
6% lower
548.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 84.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Leandro leads 12 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 11 and San Leandro 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 Rochester to San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $772,700 median home), income ($44,156 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and San Leandro, CA are about 2,345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.