Rochester, NY vs Summit, NJ
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Rochester
71.9
#953 nationally
Summit
65.6
#1624 nationally
Summit leads in median household income ($176,702 vs $42,124). Rochester leads in cost of living index (88 vs 189). Rochester leads in average commute (21.2 min vs 33.9 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Summit, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.9 (#953) | 65.6 (#1624) |
| Population | 211,328 | 22,344 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $249,152 | $1,433,872 |
| Median Household Income | $42,124 | $176,702 |
| Average Commute | 21.2 min | 33.9 min |
| Walk Score | 59 | 47 |
| Crime Level | High | 1.6 |
| School Rating | 4.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 189 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+19.1 | D+24.2 |
C-
71.9 Score
Rochester, NY
Flour City innovation hub
Median Home
$249,152
Population
211,328
Crime
High
Schools
C-
Northeast
View Rochester, NY →
D
65.6 Score
Summit, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,433,872
Population
22,344
Crime
Low
Walk Score
47
Northeast
View Summit, NJ →