Rochester receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Rochester
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
Opportunity
58 · Top 45%
vs54 · Bottom 48%
Growth
29 · Bottom 19%
vs30 · Bottom 21%
Climate
62 · Bottom 34%
vs62 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 2%
vs80 · Top 18%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 17%
vs99 · Top 22%
Access
98 · Top 12%
vs97 · Top 20%
Economic stability
66 · Top 41%
vs61 · Top 47%
Measured values
| Metric | Rochester | Buffalo-Cheektowaga | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,058,413 | 1,161,343 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,284 | $72,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,131 | $42,074 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 362/sq mi | 742/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $204,600 | $226,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,143 | $1,057 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.3% | 66.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 36.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 13.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,774 | 1,422 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.7 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.9% | 18.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.1" | 40.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.9 | 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.
Your best match
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Rochester
72
Your Score
72
Area Score
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
69
Your Score
68
Area Score
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Full profiles: Rochester, NY Metro Area · Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology