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Living in
Rochester.
About
Life in Rochester
The community is genuinely diverse—38% Black, 33% White, 20% Latino, with a robust Asian community too—and neighborhoods like Park Avenue offer real walkability and nightlife, while areas like Corn Hill and the South Wedge blend historic charm with active revitalization and a thriving small-business scene anchored by things like the annual Corn Hill Arts Festival. Here's the real trade-off though: winters are legitimately brutal—Rochester ranks among the snowiest large cities on earth with heavy lake effect snow (averaging over 100 inches annually), cold snaps dipping to 0°F on several nights a year, and it gets dark and gray fast. Your commute is mercifully short though, averaging under 19 minutes, and summers are actually one of the coolest and most comfortable in the country, ranking in the top five nationally.
Rochester at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.8%
Foreign-Born
8.2%
Broadband Internet
86.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.2% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Rochester: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rochester, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (9.8%), and 13.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
13.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.1%
of households
Married Couples
19.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.14
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 33% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Rochester
In Rochester, rent runs 33% below the NY average, and home values are 67% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,152
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
38.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
10.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $240,168 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above NY average
Unemployment in Rochester and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Rochester is 0.8 percentage points higher than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Rochester Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Rochester, NY metro area
Commute19.3 min avg
How Rochester residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rochester, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
Small hub1.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 58 mi
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 74% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rochester runs 74% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
571.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,816.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rochester Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Monroe County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Monroe County, which includes Rochester, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $46,500 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $28,500 |
| 2022 | 7 | Winter Storm | $213,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $222,500 |
| 2020 | 21 | Frost/Freeze | $240,000 |
| 2019 | 21 | High Wind | $6.3M |
| 2018 | 15 | Winter Storm | $196,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Monroe County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Monroe County, which includes Rochester, is typically good — 271 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
271
per year
Moderate Days
87
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Monroe County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rochester has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.1"
Annual Snowfall
102.0"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
168
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 2.55" |
| Feb | 35°F | 20°F | 2.13" |
| Mar | 44°F | 27°F | 2.49" |
| Apr | 57°F | 37°F | 2.99" |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 2.86" |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 3.37" |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 3.56" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 3.31" |
| Sep | 74°F | 54°F | 3.18" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.22" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.76" |
| Dec | 39°F | 25°F | 2.67" |
Healthcare6 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rochester
Rochester has 6 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
6
within city limits
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Highland Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Strong Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Strong Memorial Hospital · 601 Elmwood Ave
- Outpatient center: Strong Ties Community Support Clinic · 2613 W Henrietta Rd Ste C, Rochester
Rochester General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Unity Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Unity Hospital · 1555 Long Pond Road
- Hospital campus: Rochester Regional Health - Riedman Campus · 100 Kings Hwy S, Rochester
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education11.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rochester
Rochester's student/teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
59
within city limits
Private Schools
11
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Rochester
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,331 students · in-state tuition $70,306 · 88% graduate · median earnings $88,358 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 7,623 students · in-state tuition $6,348 · 29% graduate · median earnings $45,443 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Women's Rights National Historical Park, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rochester
Rochester has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Women's Rights National Historical Park (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Women's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
44 mi awayHarriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
National Historic Site
66 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rochester
Rochester Public Library
115 South Avenue, Rochester
Arnett Branch
310 Arnett Boulevard, Rochester
Charlotte Branch
3557 Lake Avenue, Rochester
Frederick Douglass Community Library
971 South Avenue, Rochester
Lincoln Branch
851 Joseph Avenue, Rochester
Lyell Branch
956 Lyell Avenue, Rochester
Maplewood Branch
1111 Dewey Avenue, Rochester
Monroe Branch
809 Monroe Avenue, Rochester
Sully Branch
530 Webster Avenue, Rochester
Wheatley Branch
33 Dr Samuel Mccree Way, Rochester
Winton Branch
611 Winton Road North, Rochester
Cities Near Rochester
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rochester?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rochester FAQ
Is Rochester, New York affordable?⌄
Rochester's median rent is $1,081/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,213/year. Median home value is $139,600.
Is Rochester, New York safe?⌄
Rochester's violent crime rate was 572 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2817 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rochester, New York?⌄
Rochester has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rochester, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Rochester is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,081/month and median household income is $47,213/year. The median home value is $139,600. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rochester, New York?⌄
The average commute in Rochester is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from