Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 13 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Yonkers
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $345k less ($111,400 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $664/mo less ($995 vs $1,659)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $34,052/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 6.6%)
Yonkers, NY
Pros
Households earn $34,052 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$345k less
$111,400 vs $456,500
Yonkers
Median Income
$34,052
$78,208 vs $44,156/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
46% lower
311.8 vs 582.3 per 100k
Yonkers
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.5% unemployment
Yonkers
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 82 ✓ 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 (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 32.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 209,780 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 13 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 10 and Yonkers wins 13. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $456,500 median home), income ($44,156 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Yonkers, NY are about 246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.