Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 18 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($111,400 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($995 vs $1,335)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 102°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails St. George by $25,177/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 3.3%)
St. George, UT
Pros
Households earn $25,177 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 33°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Home Value
$304k less
$111,400 vs $415,200
St. George
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Median Income
$25,177
$69,333 vs $44,156/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
64% lower
210.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.5% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 18 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 5 and St. George wins 18. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $415,200 median home), income ($44,156 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and St. George, UT are about 1,930 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.