Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 14 of 22 categories
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $1569k less ($111,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1995/mo less ($995 vs $2,990)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $130,350/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $130,350 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$1569k less
$111,400 vs $1,680,700
Rochester
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$130,350
$174,506 vs $44,156/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
58% lower
244.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 14 of 22 categories. Rochester wins 8 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($44,156 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Sunnyvale, CA are about 2,347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.