New York vs Rochester
New York, New York versus Rochester, New York: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Rochester edges out New York on overall objective livability (43 vs 35 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | New York | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $77k | $44k |
| Cost of Living | $80k | $52k |
| Home Value | $732k | $111k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $995 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.84% | 2.67% |
| Income Tax | 14.78% | 10.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.53% | 8.53% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 25.58% | 20.45% |
| Unemployment | 7.6% | 8.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 34°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 78°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5 in | 35.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 29.8 in | 102.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 170 days | 152 days |
| Summer Humidity | 63°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 83 days | 95 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 28.0 | 2.3 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 49 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 744/100k | 3084/100k |
| Property Crime | 2141/100k | 3613/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 32.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.75 | 0.66 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.93 | 0.93 |
| Political Leaning | D+55 | D+22 |
| White (%) | 31.2% | 36.3% |
| Black (%) | 21.0% | 35.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 29.0% | 19.7% |
| Asian (%) | 14.4% | 3.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 41 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 15.9/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 7 mi | 5 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.4% | 83.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 11.38 | 25.02 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is New York or Rochester more affordable?
- Rochester has the lower cost of living: its index is $52k, compared with New York's $80k and Rochester's $52k. Median rent is $2k in New York versus $995 in Rochester.
- Is New York or Rochester safer?
- New York has the lower violent crime rate. New York reports 744/100k and Rochester reports 3084/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in New York or Rochester?
- The median home value is $732k in New York and $111k in Rochester, so homes are more affordable in Rochester.