Rochester, NY vs Urbandale, IA
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
Urbandale
80.3
#85 nationally
Urbandale leads in median household income ($111,888 vs $42,124). Rochester leads in walk score (59 vs 32). Rochester leads in cost of living index (88 vs 106).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Urbandale, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.9 (#953) | 80.3 (#85) |
| Population | 211,328 | 46,729 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $249,152 | $354,918 |
| Median Household Income | $42,124 | $111,888 |
| Average Commute | 21.2 min | 19 min |
| Walk Score | 59 | 32 |
| Crime Level | High | 2.4 |
| School Rating | 4.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+19.1 | D+10.9 |
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 →
B-
80.3 Score
Urbandale, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$354,918
Population
46,729
Crime
Low
Walk Score
32
Midwest
View Urbandale, IA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Rochester for: