Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Waterbury leads 12 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($111,400 vs $162,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (8.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $145/mo less ($995 vs $1,140)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Waterbury by $7,295/yr
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 102" of snow per year
Waterbury, CT
Pros
45% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $7,295 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 8.5%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Home Value
$51k less
$111,400 vs $162,800
Rochester
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
8.5% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Income
$7,295
$51,451 vs $44,156/yr
Waterbury
Violent Crime
45% lower
322.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $51,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 12.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waterbury leads 12 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 11 and Waterbury 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $162,800 median home), income ($44,156 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Waterbury, CT are about 259 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.