Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Sunrise, FL
🏆 Sunrise leads 11 of 20 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
Sunrise
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
96,510
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($111,400 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $851/mo less ($995 vs $1,846)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunrise
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunrise by $21,845/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 6.5%)
Sunrise, FL
Pros
Households earn $21,845 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,846/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$185k less
$111,400 vs $296,100
Sunrise
Median Income
$21,845
$66,001 vs $44,156/yr
Sunrise
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Sunrise
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Sunrise, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $296,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,846⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $66,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 10.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 76.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 67.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 96,510 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Sunrise's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Sunrise leads 11 of 20 categories. Rochester wins 9 and Sunrise wins 11. 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 Sunrise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $296,100 median home), income ($44,156 vs $66,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Sunrise, FL are about 1,184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.