What it's like to live in Rochester
Rochester is a large city in New York with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Rochester deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, hospital ratings below the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Rochester compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Rochester
Based on Rochester's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,162
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,240 a year
- 51% of Rochester renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$27,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $13,960
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,081/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,081 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $139,600. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $139,600 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 19% above US
5.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 74% above US
572 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2817/100k · Rochester Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% take public transit; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
6 hospitals
There are 6 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 17% below US
30% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 30% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
59 public schools inside the boundary
There are 59 public schools inside the boundary and 11 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Women's Rights National Historical Park (44 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Rochester's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,081/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Rochester
All New York guides →Moving to Irondequoit →
4 mi away · pop. 50,657
Rent $1,159/mo · Income $79,162
Compare with Rochester →Moving to North Gates →
4 mi away · pop. 9,904
Rent $1,137/mo · Income $76,277
Compare with Rochester →Not sure Rochester is the one?
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