Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($111,400 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $180/mo less ($995 vs $1,175)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $22,327/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 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $22,327 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rochester
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$196k less
$111,400 vs $307,700
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$22,327
$66,483 vs $44,156/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
58% lower
242.1 vs 582.3 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 10 and Spokane Valley wins 13. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $307,700 median home), income ($44,156 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.