Relocation profile · Federal data
Rochester, NY
BEA RPP 97.0 ranks #260 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 97.0
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,573
- 2BR rent / mo
- $72,785
- Median salary
- 49.4
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Rochester ranks #223 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (49.4/100), with its strongest marks in schools and job market.
- #223
- of 387 US metros · Near median
- 19,867,248
- metro-area population
- 380
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 4,812
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (21/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Rochester ranks #223 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 97.0 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,573/mo, median salary $72,785; LiveAbility Score 49.4/100, strongest in schools and job market.
Signature: BEA RPP 97.0 ranks #260 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 97.0 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,573/mo.
LiveAbility 49.4/100 keeps Rochester in the middle third (#223 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Rochester area is 478,930.
Rochester vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
49 Top 58% higher than 42% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Rochester housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Rochester MSA; housing RPP 87.5 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,573/mo.
Rochester wages and employment
Rochester posts 478,930 total employment with median salary $72,785 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,600 |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,650 |
| Registered Nurses | $86,570 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,430 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,940 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Rochester area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Rochester area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Rochester's composite Life Score is 41/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Rochester ranks #223 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 49.4/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Rochester - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
95 /100
- Job market
Job market
81 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
75 /100
- Safety 37
Safety
37 /100
- Cost of living 33
Cost of living
33 /100
- Housing 27
Housing
27 /100
- Climate 23
Climate
23 /100
- Low hazard 21
Low hazard
21 /100
What this shows Rochester's strongest dimensions are schools and job market; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 21/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Rochester to
Metros near Rochester on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Rochester on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Rochester cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Rochester wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Rochester?
Rochester runs a $72,785 median salary at a 97.0 cost index, ranking #223 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Rochester's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Rochester head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Rochester
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.