Rochester receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Kalamazoo-Portage
Rochester
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 17%
vs58 · Top 44%
Growth
36 · Bottom 28%
vs35 · Bottom 27%
Climate
62 · Bottom 34%
vs62 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
93 · Top 3%
vs94 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 45%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
96 · Top 13%
vs98 · Top 7%
Economic stability
75 · Top 19%
vs66 · Top 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Kalamazoo-Portage | Rochester | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 262,375 | 1,058,413 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,532 | $76,284 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,530 | $43,131 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 467/sq mi | 362/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $241,800 | $204,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,093 | $1,143 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.5% | 67.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.5% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.3% | 38.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 12.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 438 | 1,774 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.7 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.3% | 5.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.2" | 35.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 22.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.0 | 40.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Kalamazoo-Portage
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado, strong wind.
Rochester
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Kalamazoo-Portage
71
Your Score
66
Area Score
Rochester
73
Your Score
71
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metro Area · Rochester, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology