Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Stockton leads 12 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992
Stockton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($111,400 vs $382,000)
49% less violent crime than Stockton
Rent averages $422/mo less ($995 vs $1,417)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $27,456/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 7.7%)
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,456 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
49% lower
582.3 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$271k less
$111,400 vs $382,000
Stockton
Median Income
$27,456
$71,612 vs $44,156/yr
Stockton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.7% vs 8.5% unemployment
Stockton
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stockton leads 12 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 11 and Stockton wins 12. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $382,000 median home), income ($44,156 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Stockton, CA are about 2,295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.