Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks 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
Sparks
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($111,400 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $531/mo less ($995 vs $1,526)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $38,782/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%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $38,782 more per year on average
32% 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 $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$312k less
$111,400 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$38,782
$82,938 vs $44,156/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
32% lower
394.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.5% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 14 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 9 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $423,500 median home), income ($44,156 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Sparks, NV are about 2,174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.