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
• 7% of the world's fresh water supply is 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.
18th Among "The World's Leading Science Cities"
• Scientific Reports named Rochester 18th among
"The World's Leading Science Cities." (May 2013)
Education
6 Rochester Area High Schools Rank Among Top 3% in U.S.
• In U.S. News and World Report's 2018 evaluation of more than 20,000 public high schools, 6 schools in the Greater Rochester, N.Y. region are
among the top 3 percent. They are Pittsford Mendon High School (108), Pittsford Sutherland High School (161), Brighton High School (306), Honeoye Falls-Lima Senior High School (371), Victor Senior High School (558), and Geneseo Middle School High School (699).
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
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)
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.
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)
Finger Lakes Voted Nation's Top Wine Region in America
• The Finger Lakes was voted the
nation's top wine region and 3 local eateries ranked #1, #3, and #8 best winery restaurants in America by USA Today readers in a national poll (August 2018)
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)
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 Homes 54% More Affordable Than the National Average
• At $146,000, the median home sales price is 54% more affordable than the national average. Approximately 81% of area homes are affordable for our region's median income. NAHB Housing Opportunity Index (Q3 2018)
Rochester Tops for Volunteerism
• Rochester
ranks 2nd among large US metros for volunteer hours per resident. (source: Corporation for National & Community Service, 2018)
Health
Rochester's Health Care is Among the Best in the Country
• Rochester's health care costs are among the lowest in the country.
Commercial insurance costs are 30% below the national average.
"One of America's Best Hospitals in the Nation"
• Strong Memorial Hospital, consistently recognized in U.S. News and Reports as "One of America's Best Hospitals in the Nation," is widely known for its cardiac care. It operates the only heart transplant program in Western New York and is also nationally recognized for neurosurgery, urology, gynecology, cancer and pediatric specialties.
Recreation
One of the Top 10 Golf Cities
• Rochester, NY was named one of the Top 10 Best Golf Cities in America. (source: Golf.com)
The Strong Museum of Play Among Best Museums in U.S.
• USA Today ranked The Strong as the #3
“Best Museum for Families” in the country: (2017)
Top 10 "Lakeside Vacations that Have it All"
• Yahoo Travel ranks Finger Lakes Region Among
Top 10 "Lakeside Vacations that Have it All" (April 2013)
Home to some of "The Most Exciting Red Wines in the U.S"
• Wine Enthusiast notes that New York State produces
"the most exciting red wines in the United States," specifically identifying the Finger Lakes' Cabernet Francs and Pinot Noirs. (2017)