Rochester 80 Exceptional
Rochester Livability #202 ranked city in Pennsylvania#1,832 ranked city in the USARanks better than 93% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Pros and Cons of Living in Rochester

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

CONS
  • Crime Crime

    This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.

What's it like Living in Rochester?

Rochester, Pennsylvania is a smaller city with a population of 3,574 people. With a population density of 6,077 people per square mile, Rochester is well above the nation's average density level. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (71% White). Given that fact, Rochester could be considered less diverse than other cities. Rochester is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 45%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Rochester could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Pennsylvania if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Rochester, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, health & safety, education, housing and more.

The livability score in Rochester is 83/100 and the city is ranked in the 97th percentile of all cities across America. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Rochester could be a great choice! Rochester is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Rochester has higher than average grades for the following: crime (A), cost of living (A+) and housing (A). Regrettably for Rochester, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (D) and employment (F).

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Rochester can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Rochester real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Rochester. The median home price for Rochester homes is $132,129, which is 55.4% lower than the Pennsylvania average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Rochester, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.6, which is 29.7% lower than the Pennsylvania average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Rochester

See all the best places to live around Rochester

How Do You Rate The Livability In Rochester?

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Compare Rochester, PA Livability

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      Rochester transportation information

      Statistic Rochester Pennsylvania National
      Average one way commute22min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work71.7%76.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool12.0%8.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit4.2%5.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk10.5%3.8%2.8%
      Working from home0.0%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Rochester, PA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.