MoveMap
Moving Guides/Rochester

Moving to Rochester

What you need to know before relocating to Rochester, New York. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Rochester a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Rochester compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($1,138/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($207,100) are well below the us median; low uninsured rate (5.4%) and good healthcare access.

Rochester at a Glance

Population
1.1M
Median Income
$73,294
Median Rent
$1,138/mo
Median Home Price
$207,100
Unemployment
3.4%
Avg Commute
445726 min

Cost of Living in Rochester

The median rent in Rochester is $1,138/month, while the median home value is $207,100. With a median household income of $73,294, residents spend roughly 19% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Rochester metro area is classified as average compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
19% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
32% below

Job Market

Rochester has a median household income of $73,294, which is 2% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Rochester

The violent crime rate in Rochester is 390 per 100,000 residents, which is 3% above the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1799 per 100,000 residents.

Education in New York

New York has a high school graduation rate of 88% and per-pupil spending of $33,437/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1.

41% of New York adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

New York has 389 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.4% uninsured rate, and 3.0 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in New York is 79.0 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Rochester

+Pros

  • Rent ($1,138/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($207,100) are well below the US median
  • Low uninsured rate (5.4%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Longer-than-average commute (445726 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rochester a good place to live?

Rochester, New York has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($1,138/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($207,100) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Rochester?

The median rent in Rochester is $1,138/month and the median home value is $207,100. The median household income is $73,294. Overall the metro is considered average.

Is Rochester safe?

Rochester has a violent crime rate of 390 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Rochester?

Rochester has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $73,294.

Explore More About Rochester