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New York city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Rochester?

What it costs to live in Rochester, and how it compares with other New York cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

41

106th best value in New York

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New York cities.

Overall livability

20

131st overall in New York

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Rochester is home to about 211,100 people. A typical home runs $93,100 and a household earns around $40,100, a price-to-income ratio of 2.3. Among New York's largest cities, it ranks 106th for value and 131st overall.

Rochester at a glance

Median home price

$93,100

18th in NY of 135

Median rent

$915/mo

Median household income

$40,100

Home price to income

2.3x

Unemployment

8.9%

129th in NY of 135

School rating

2/10

131st in NY of 135

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NY of 135

Walk score

25/100

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‹ See all top New York cities ranked  ยท  New York state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New York only. Updated 2026.