Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($111,400 vs $186,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Yuma by $15,156/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%)
Yuma, AZ
Pros
27% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $15,156 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Home Value
$75k less
$111,400 vs $186,500
Yuma
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Income
$15,156
$59,312 vs $44,156/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
27% lower
423.6 vs 582.3 per 100k
Yuma
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.7% vs 8.5% unemployment
Yuma
Summer Heat
24.2°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,028 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 9 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $186,500 median home), income ($44,156 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Yuma, AZ are about 2,124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.