Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $540k less ($111,400 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $773/mo less ($995 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 99°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $60,041/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 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $60,041 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$540k less
$111,400 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$60,041
$104,197 vs $44,156/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
74% lower
152.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $651,800 median home), income ($44,156 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.