Are you preparing for a move to New York and wondering about an ideal city to reside in? Well, we are here to take you to a great metropolis New City with impressive history, culture, and amenities.
Rochester, the young lion of the west, is the fourth populated city of New York state. It is situated in the western part of New York, south of the Lake Ontario shoreline of Monroe County.
With its proximity to various picturesque natural features, rich history, educational opportunities, and several amenities, no wonder, it’s called a great vacation spot, and a perfect place to raise a family in the US.
So, without wasting time, let us now delve into the blog to learn more about moving to Rochester, NY.
What Is Rochester Ny Known For?
Rochester NY is known for its impeccable history and art scene in optical, xerography, and heliography.
It stands in a great position in research, start-ups, and manufacturing activities and unique educational resources in both imaging and conventional sciences.
Established in 1789 along the shorelines of river Genesee, Rochester was an industrial city that offered ways to several ventures including clothing, shoe, railway, and flour-milling enterprises, and became the pioneer in the sale of these industrial perks.
Other than this, Rochester is known as:
- New York’s most educated city and 33rd most educated city in the US.
- “Flower City” for having the most local nursery businesses.
- “Flour City” for having a large number of flour Mills in the city.
- It’s also called the “world’s largest image center” for its major role in Film photography.
- The first producer of Marshmallows and Graham crackers.
Is Rochester NY Safe?
Rochester NY has an elevated violent and property crime rate than the national average.

The violent and property crime in Rochester in comparison with another metropolis of New York state, Buffalo, and the US average is stated below:
Crime type | Rochester, NY | Buffalo, NY | US |
Violent crime | 46 | 57 | 23 |
Property crime | 59 | 61 | 34 |
Source: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs-en-us-079pct.pdf
The above table states that Rochester has a comparatively lower crime rate than Buffalo, NY but has doubled the crime rate of the US average.
This means residents have to take safety precautions for themselves and their belongings, no matter where they are in the city.
Rochester NY is a somewhat safe place to live with distinguished safety concerns, thanks to the law enforcement who are roaming throughout the city to eradicate local crimes.
It’s generally a safe place for tourists as most tourist spots are less prone to crime than other parts of the city.
Rochester is the 5th most dangerous area at night, so, it’s recommended to avoid roaming at night.
Things To Know Before Moving To Rochester NY
Here is a list of 5 important things to know before moving to Rochester NY.
Living In Rochester NY
Rochester NY is considered the #3 best place to live in New York State. It’s ranked #9 in the US for its great quality of life and #3 rank in the Forbes list of best places to have a family.
The people of Rochester lead a simple yet laid-back lifestyle with the utmost benefits of living which include lower cost of living, top-class education, affordable houses, and a great commute system.
Most Rochesterians are warm, family-friendly, and set a strong bond in their neighborhood making a great living in Rochester.
The city offers a great nightlife scene concentrated on live music, dancing, nightlife, and more.
Cost Of Living In Rochester NY
Rochester is one of the cheapest places to live, not only in New York but also in the US. The cost of living in Rochester NY is 89, which is 11% lower than the national average and 27% lower than the state average.

When compared with Buffalo, Rochester’s cost of living is 3% lower than Buffalo’s average.
Except for healthcare, utilities, and miscellaneous expenses, other indices like food and groceries, housing, and transportation prices remain lower than the US average.
So, to lead a livable life in Rochester, you must earn a minimum annual income of $25,000 for a single individual and $38,000 for a family of four.
Here is a table for the cost of living in Rochester, NY in comparison with the national average:
Category | Rochester | US average |
---|---|---|
Overall | 87 | 100 |
Food and groceries | 98 | 100 |
Healthcare | 107 | 100 |
Housing | 45 | 100 |
Utilities | 103 | 100 |
Transportation | 91 | 100 |
Miscellaneous | 149 | 100 |
Source: https://www.rochester.edu/working/hr/compliance/library/WageandSalaryProgramStandards.pdf
Housing In Rochester NY
Rochester is a great place to buy a house because it has affordable, competitive, and diverse housing options available compared to other new work cities. Buying a home is the only way to become a resident in New York.
The median home price in Rochester NY is $131,000, which is 59% lower than the national average of $338,000. Furthermore, the typical home value in Rochester is $230,000, which is one of the cheapest compared to other NY cities.
The average cost to build a house in Rochester NY ranges between $230,000 and $365,450, or $250-$350 per square foot.
The table below illustrates the average housing and rental prices of Rochester NY in comparison with the US average.
Housing costs | Rochester NY | US |
---|---|---|
Median home cost | $131,000 | $338,100 |
Rental cost of a studio | 1050 | $1080 |
Rental cost of 1 bedroom | 80 | $1180 |
Rental cost of 2 bedroom | 576 | $1430 |
Rental cost of 3 bedroom | 98 | $1860 |
Source: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/pdf/FortWorthArlingtonTX-CHMA-21.pdf
Weather conditions Rochester NY

Rochester has a human continental climate with four different seasons which happen year-round in the following forms:
- Summer: Rochester gets warm, hot, humid summers with temperatures varying from 66°F to 79°F. The summer season lasts for 3.5 months from early June to early September. The hottest month in Rochester is June, with a high temperature of around 81°F. On average the city gets 165 sunny days which is lower than the national average of 205 sunny days per year. The best time to visit New York, and Rochester is from June to August.
- Winters: Rochester gets extremely cold and snowy winters with an average low of 19°F and a high of 35°F. The cold season lasts from early December till the end of March for 3.3 months with an average daily temperature of less than 35°F. January is the coldest month in Rochester with an average low temperature of less than 17°F and 22.3 inches of significant snowfall.
- Fall: The fall season in Rochester starts in early September and till early November with an average temperature ranging from the 50s to 70s.
- Spring: Spring months in Rochester are quite mild and begin at the March-end and happen till early June. The average temperature during this time remains lower around the 70s.
- Precipitation: Heavy precipitation and snow storms are liable to occur from May to October on an average of 38 inches every year in the form of rain, hail, sleet, or snow.
Things To Do In Rochester NY
There are an abundance of things to do and places to see in Rochester, if you know where to stay from and what you want the most!
Listing out the top things to do for all ages in Rochester NY that you must crack while being in the city.
Best things to do in Rochester NY for kids:
- Visit the Seneca Park Zoo.
- Gain science knowledge at Rochester Museum and Science Centre.
- Have some kids create activities at the memorial art gallery.
Best things to do in Rochester NY for adults:
- Indulge in the wives of local taste and artisanal products at the public market of Rochester.
- Cherish women’s equality and rights at the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House.
- Taste delicious beers and support charities at Hero’s Brewing Company’s tap room.
- Test wine in the Fingers Lake wine region.
Best things to do in Rochester NY for couples:
- Challenge your partner to finish the garbage plate at Nick Tahou Hots.
- Discover your love track at the House of Guitar’s legendary showroom.
- Write the roller coasters at Seabreeze.
Best things to do in Rochester NY for families:
- Cherish the beauty of Turning Point Park on the Genesee.
- Get blinded in space at Strasenburgh Planetarium.
- Take a virtual tour of the photography world at the George Eastman Museum.
- Have a fun field family outing at farm country.
Best things to do in Rochester NY for retirees:
- Enjoy a pleasant day trip with your lady in Honeoye Falls.
- Pay a visit to the artisan works.
- Go for a canal cruise with your partner at Erie Canal cruise.
Cost Of Moving To Rochester NY
Relocating is always a smart move to work, live, and raise a family, and to make it more effective initially, we hire a full-time moving company.

The average cost of moving to Rochester NY or locally typically varies from $605-$10,000 based on the weight of the belongings, type of service needed, journey time, and more.
The average cost of hiring a mover in Rochester is $48 per hour.
So, before you finalize a deposit to a moving company check out the average prices they offer according to room size and the 7 best moving companies in Rochester, NY.
Size of Room | The average cost of a move |
Studio room | $605 |
One-bedroom | $902 |
Two-bedroom | $1550 |
Three-bedroom | $3900 |
7 best-moving companies in Rochester NY include:
- Safeway moving
- American Van lines
- International Van lines
- North American moving services
- JK moving services
- Mayflower movers
- HP3 Moving
Living In Rochester NY Pros And Cons
Living in Rochester comes with a combination of advantages and drawbacks, which altogether, make it a beautiful and fascinating place to call home.
Listing out the key takeaways of the pros and cons of living in Rochester, NY.
PROS
- Abundance of affordable homes and rental houses.
- Strong and booming job market.
- Excellent educational opportunities.
- Diverse Culinary scenes.
- Vibrant history and arts scene.
- Walkable downtown.
- Plenty of outdoor activities for various age groups
- Friendly and welcoming communities.
CONS
- Hash winters.
- Higher crime rate.
- Limited public transportation facilities.
- Occasional heavy traffic.
- Scattered public school system.
Best Neighborhoods In Rochester NY
The city of Rochester offers a diverse range of neighborhoods with affordable homes, rental costs, safety, and with abundance of amenities.

Listing out the 7 best places to live in Rochester NY that stand out from the rest in terms of the above-listed qualities.
- Cobbs Hill
- Park Avenue
- Highland Park
- Neighborhood of the arts
- South Wedge
- Swillburg
- Upper Monroe
Moving to Rochester, NY FAQ’s
Do you need a car to live in Rochester NY?
You don’t need a car to live in Rochester because it has an ingenious and reliable transit system which includes buses and taxis. It is also a bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly City with several bike and walking lanes. If you own a car, it might help you transit easily during harsh weather and with a limited public transportation system.
What’s the ranking of Rochester’s education system?
Rochester’s education system is ranked #47 in all over the US. It has 47 schools with more than 25,000 students enrolled in it along with a minority allotment of 90%.
What’s the population of Rochester?
As of 2023, the population of Rochester is 230,300 residents of which the racial composition of the city is as follows:
- White (non-Hispanic) – 37%
- Black or African American(non-Hispanic) – 36%
- White (Hispanic) – 8%
- Asian – 5%
- Other races – 13%
Is Rochester NY a good place to retire?
According to the Democrat and Chronicle report 2023, Rochester NY is the #50 best place in the US to retire. The factors behind Rochester being a great place to retire are:
- Lesser rental and housing prices.
- Pleasant climate.
- Family-friendly communities,
- Affordable living
- Great healthcare facilities for seniors.
Conclusion
With almost all the great offerings in its pocket, Rochester is a unique and great metropolis in the New York state to call home. It is not only an affordable place to reside but also a reliable and friendly city in the state.
If you have decided to make a relocation to the Flower City, or thinking about it, make sure to read our blog post again, and note down what you’re up to and your upcoming, to have a great journey to the city.
If you’re planning to head to some other NY cities, read our blog post moving to Syracuse NY to know more about it.