Is Rochester New York a good place to live?
Christopher Davis
Updated on March 22, 2026
Rochester might be the third largest city in New York, but that doesn’t deter it from being a close-knit community. The larger than life city provides its residents with a small town feel as everyone feels safe and comfortable. The cost of living is great compared to other cities in New York. The food is awesome.
What is a good salary in Rochester NY?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $90,728 and as low as $23,505, the majority of salaries within the Comfortable jobs category currently range between $27,265 (25th percentile) to $41,838 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $58,761 annually in Rochester.
Is Rochester NY a bad place to live?
About one in three Rochester residents live in poverty, a higher poverty rate than in all but 14 other U.S. cities. “Property values in Rochester are very low on average. More than half of all homes in the city are worth less than $77,000, one of the lowest median property values in the country.
Is it expensive to live in Rochester NY?
Rochester’s housing expenses are 7% lower than the national average and the utility prices are 1% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 15% higher than the national average. Rochester has grocery prices that are 1% lower than the national average.
What part of Rochester NY is bad?
Bad neighborhoods are the entire west side including West Main St. Plymouth Ave, Jefferson Ave, Troup St. Thurston Rd and Genesee St. The north west side including the Llyle Ave area, known for drugs and prostitution.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Rochester NY?
Rochester cost of living is 78.4
| COST OF LIVING | Rochester | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | 32.5 | 132.1 |
| Median Home Cost | $75,200 | $305,400 |
| Utilities | 103.2 | 115.9 |
| Transportation | 90.6 | 140.7 |
What is minimum wage in Rochester New York?
$12.50 per hour
$7.15 / hour New York’s state minimum wage rate is $12.50 per hour. This is greater than the Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25. You are entitled to be paid the higher state minimum wage.
How dangerous is Rochester NY?
With a crime rate of 42 per one thousand residents, Rochester has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 24.
What to know about moving to Rochester New York?
Before we get into frequently asked questions about moving to Rochester, New York, let’s first give you a few facts on the city of Rochester. Things we found interesting that we thought you might want to know about the city. A list from the US News & World Report places Rochester, New York as number 19 for the quality of life.
Is it affordable to live in Rochester NY?
However, Rochester (89 points) is 31 points more affordable than the state of New York (120 according to areavibes.com) and 11 points more affordable than other cities in the US (100). What’s the average house price in Rochester, NY?
What’s the quality of life in Rochester NY?
A list from the US News & World Report places Rochester, New York as number 19 for the quality of life. This ranking is based on crime rates, availability and quality of healthcare, average commute time, well-being, and education. Sounds like an interesting place to live huh?
Where does Rochester New York rank in livability?
Rochester’s GMP has since ranked just below Buffalo’s, while exceeding it in per-capita income. In 2007, the 25th edition of the Places Rated Almanac rated Rochester the “most livable city” among 379 U.S. metropolitan areas. In 2010 Forbes rated Rochester the third-best place to raise a family in the United States.
