Rochester Rankings

When you list all the things the Greater Rochester, NY region has to offer, it may seem a bit unbelievable. Top-tier talent, natural resources, world-class colleges and universities, great location near major markets and a low cost of living? All in one economically thriving, opportunity-rich region? Get Real!

But the reality is, the Greater Rochester, NY region really does have it all. Real talent, real collaboration, real access to markets, and real opportunity. That’s why companies like ProAmpac, VIAVI Solutions, and Security Risk Advisors recently made multimillion-dollar investments in new operations right here in our community. They want real results. And they knew where to find them.

Check out the rankings below to see why Rochester is one of the best cities in New York to live and work!

Business

Brookings Institute ranks Rochester Among Top Metros for Patents

• Greater Rochester ranks 13th among metropolitan regions for the number of patents issued per million residents, with the largest subcategory of patents granted for optics research.

According to Brookings Institute report, "San Francisco, Boston, Austin, Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Rochester, and Minneapolis are in the upper tier of large metros that produce patents at high volumes and rates."

(Source: Brookings Institute 2013 report "Patenting Prosperity: Invention and Economic Performance in the United States and its Metropolitan Areas.")

The Most Innovative Cities in America

• Rochester, NY is recognized as one of the 25 most innovative cities in America based on patent registration and advanced degrees. (Source: 24/7 Wall St. 2018)

Abundance of Fresh Water

• There is an unlimited fresh water supply right here in the Greater Rochester, NY Region. No water rationing or water rights fees and rates well below the national average make our region attractive for food processing, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing.

Technology

#1 in the U.S. for patents issued per 1000 workers

• Rochester is ranked #1 in the U.S. for patents issued per 1000 workers (source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, April 2015)

Rochester's Tech Economy Ranks High

• A report published in Brookings Metro about the digitalization of the U.S. economy ranks Rochester, NY as the 15th most "digitalized" economy among the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.

#1 Market for Hiring Cybersecurity Talent

• CBRE Labor Analytics just issued a report that ranks Rochester, NY the #1 market in the US for hiring opportunities for cybersecurity talent. This ranking is based on talent availability and hiring competition. Rochester’s leadership role is due in part to the well-trained talent coming out of RIT. (2020)

Top Metro in US for Future Growth

• Rochester is the top metro in the US for future growth and strategic investment in tech innovation (MIT Economics, 2019)

Education

11 Rochester Area High Schools Rank Among Top 10% in U.S.

• In U.S. News and World Report's 2020 evaluation of nearly 18,000 public high schools, 11 schools in the Greater Rochester, N.Y. region are among the top 10 percent. They are Pittsford Sutherland High School (240), Pittsford Mendon High School (253), Honeoye Falls-Lima Senior High School (299), Brighton High School (834), Victor Senior High School (873), Webster Thomas High School (918), Penfield Senior High School (955), Geneseo Middle School High School (1,209), Fairport Senior High School (1,296), Canandaigua Academy (1,462), and Rush-Henrietta Senior High School (1,512).

Nationally Recognized Workforce Training

• Monroe Community College is noted by the Aspen Institute's 2019 "Workforce Playbook" as one of 6 schools in the US leading the way in innovative workforce development. Read more here. (June 2019)

RIT Video Game Program Ranked No. 2 by Princeton Review

• Rochester Institute of Technology is one of the top schools in the world to study game design and launch games, according to new international rankings from The Princeton Review. RIT's game design and development program was ranked second at the undergraduate level and fourth at the graduate level. (The Princeton Review, 2017)

Living and Culture

Rochester Among 9 Best Cities in America to Visit in 2020

• Smarter Travel notes the 200^th birthday of Susan B. Anthony and the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th amendment as reasons to visit Rochester, NY, along with downtown revitalization, a booming food and drink scene, High Falls, The Strong, George Eastman Museum and the Memorial Art Gallery. Read more.

Rochester area makes top 10 for realtor.com's hottest markets in 2020

• Rochester, NY was ranked 6th among top metro areas for 2020. Realtor.com expects the Rochester market to remain steadfast next year, though the U.S. housing market should cool down. (December 2019)

Rochester, NY is the Hottest Real Estate Market

• Rochester, NY, topped realtor.com's list of the hottest markets in America for the first time, propelled by price-conscious buyers of all generations interested in urban living. And why not? Perched on Lake Ontario, the city has its own university, good public schools, and over 12,000 acres of parkland, and it's just a stone's throw away from the wine-growing Finger Lakes region. (June 2019)

13th Best Place to Live in the U.S. for Quality of Life

• According to U.S. News & World Report, Rochester is the 13th Best Place to Live in the U.S. for Quality of Life. Short commutes and high-quality education were key factors. (2018)

Forbes ranks Rochester, NY one of the 10 Most Affordable Cities to Buy a Home

• Forbes ranks Rochester, NY one of the 10 Most Affordable Cities to Buy a Home

It’s also been on the radar of many housing experts as people leave Manhattan for more space and lower housing costs. (source: Forbes 2021)

One of Top Cities in U.S. Where Millennials Are Moving Most

• Greater Rochester, NY is among the top 18 metro areas in the U.S. where Millennials are moving to the most in 2019, according to the National Association of Realtors in a Bloomberg News report. Millennials born between 1980 and 1998 represent more than two-thirds of new Rochester residents, and Rochester is in the top five among metros where recent millennial movers have a higher income than the current millennial population.

Rochester Homes 48% More Affordable Than the National Average

• At $166,000, the median home sales price is 48% more affordable than the national average. Approximately 79% of area homes are affordable for our region's median income. NAHB Housing Opportunity Index (Q4 2020)

Rochester a Top Destination for Millennial Homeowners

• A 2019 report from Lending Tree shows that Rochester, NY is among the top 10 cities in the U.S. where Millennials are entering the housing market.

Rochester Ranks 17th for Arts Vibrancy

• Rochester, NY is the 17th most “arts vibrant” place in the country, according to the National Center for Arts Research annual Arts Vibrancy Index. (July 2018)

Rochester health care costs among lowest in U.S.

• Rochester's health care costs are the 4th lowest in the nation (Institute of Medicine, 2015)

Among Top Ten "Coziest Cities"

• Rochester ranks among the top ten "Coziest Cities in America" based on high scores in reading books, knitting/needlework and cafes, coffee shops and tea houses as well as a high percentage of homes with a fireplace. Other cities on the list include hot markets like Boston, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Portland, OR. (U.S. News and World Report, 2019)

Finger Lakes Named America's Top Wine Region

• For the second straight year, the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York has been named the best wine region in the United States in a national poll conducted by USA Today and its travel site, 10Best.com. (August 2019)

Rochester is a Low Risk for Natural Disasters

• Recent map from Popular Science article shows Rochester, NY is a low risk for natural disasters (August 2014)

10 Least Stressed Out Cities

• Short commutes and moderate living costs earned Rochester the number two spot on CNN Money's list of 10 Least Stressed Out Cities. (July 2014)

Rochester Tops for Volunteerism

• Rochester ranks 2nd among large US metros for volunteer hours per resident. (source: Corporation for National & Community Service, 2018)

Health

7th Best Place to Live in After the Coronavirus Pandemic

• According to Business Insider, Rochester, NY is the 7th best place to live in after the coronavirus pandemic. Population density, housing affordability, cost of living, commute times, and percentage of residents over 25 with at least a bachelor's degree were factored into this ranking. (June 2020)