Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($111,400 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($995 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $44,310/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 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $44,310 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$193k less
$111,400 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$44,310
$88,466 vs $44,156/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
60% lower
235.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
21.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 9 and San Tan Valley 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $304,000 median home), income ($44,156 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,953 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.