New Rochelle NY vs Rochester MN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

New Rochelle, NY

New York · Population: 48,198

  • Median HH Income$48,535
  • Median Home Price$920,484
  • Unemployment9.7%
  • Bachelor's+22.8%

Rochester, MN

Minnesota · Population: 26,509

  • Median HH Income$127,247
  • Median Home Price$344,633
  • Unemployment3.2%
  • Bachelor's+50.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
New Rochelle
48,198
New Rochelle +
Rochester
26,509
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
New Rochelle
N/A
Rochester
N/A
Median Age
New Rochelle
40.7
Rochester
38.7
Rochester +
Foreign Born
New Rochelle
4.6%
Rochester
7.1%
Rochester +
White
New Rochelle
66.1%
Rochester
82.9%
Rochester +
Black
New Rochelle
17.8%
New Rochelle +
Rochester
3.6%
Asian
New Rochelle
2.3%
Rochester
5.2%
Rochester +
Hispanic
New Rochelle
8.0%
New Rochelle +
Rochester
3.9%
Spanish at Home
New Rochelle
N/A
Rochester
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
New Rochelle
$48,535
Rochester
$127,247
Rochester +
Per Capita Income
New Rochelle
$30,033
Rochester
$57,602
Rochester +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
New Rochelle
$77,425
New Rochelle +
Rochester
$69,467
Unemployment Rate
New Rochelle
9.7%
Rochester
3.2%
Rochester +
Poverty Rate
New Rochelle
23.7%
Rochester
2.9%
Rochester +
Bachelor's Degree+
New Rochelle
22.8%
Rochester
50.3%
Rochester +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
New Rochelle
$920,484
Rochester
$344,633
Rochester +
Homeownership Rate
New Rochelle
57.5%
Rochester
86.6%
Rochester +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
434
Rochester
284
Rochester +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
1736
New Rochelle +
Rochester
1992

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
26.6%
New Rochelle +
Rochester
36.4%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
10.6%
Rochester
9.2%
Rochester +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
New Rochelle
13.8%
New Rochelle +
Rochester
14.3%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
9.5%
Rochester
7.1%
Rochester +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
14.9%
New Rochelle +
Rochester
16.0%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
New Rochelle
9.3%
New Rochelle +
Rochester
11.4%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Rochelle
N/A
Rochester
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Rochelle
N/A
Rochester
34.0 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
New Rochelle
8.1 µg/m³
Rochester
8.1 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
New Rochelle
75.0%
Rochester
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
New Rochelle
20.0 min
New Rochelle +
Rochester
28.3 min

Which City is Right for You?

Rochester leads in median household income at $127,247, while rochester offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $344,633. On public safety, Rochester is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in New Rochelle. Rochester has a lower unemployment rate at 3.2%, and Rochester has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, New Rochelle scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.6%.

Compare More Cities

About New Rochelle & Rochester