The Rochester Region

  • Ranked 1st for Overall Quality of Life among metros with a population of more than 1 million. Source: Expansion Management, May/June 2007
  • Ranked 5th for Overall Innovation Capacity based on:
    1. Jobs in high-tech industries
    2. Degrees granted in science and engineering
    3. Number of patents
    4. Academic research and development funding
    5. Venture capital invested.
    Source: Metropolitan New Economy Index: Benchmarking Economic Transformation in the Nation’s Metropolitan Areas, 2001
  • Named 6th Most Livable City in the U.S. Source: Places Rated Almanac, 2007
  • Ranked 7th among the 10 Best Cities to Raise a Family based on pediatric health characteristics and services, cost of living, economic strength, quality of life, education and environmental quality criteria. Source: Child Magazine, 2003
  • Ranked 1st among 125 world regions for Patent Registration. Source: World Knowledge Competitiveness Index 2003-2004: Benchmarking the Globe’s Leading Knowledge Economy Regions, Robert Huggins Business and Economic Policy Press
  • Ranked 11th among 100 Metro Areas for Least Stressful City based on: unemployment rate, divorce rate, commute time, violent and property crime rates, suicide rate, alcohol consumption, self-reported poor mental health, and number of cloudy days. Source: Sperlings’s Best Places, 2004

Living in Rochester

The Historic High Falls District offers laser shows, microbreweries, a variety of cuisines, shops featuring local artisans, and affordable city housing.

Located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in the Finger Lakes area of upstate New York, Rochester is a stimulating and progressive metropolitan community of more than a million people. Within driving distance of New York City, Toronto, and Buffalo, Rochester is close to major metropolitan areas and international airports.

As the city’s largest employer, the University of Rochester plays a key role in the economic and cultural life of the area. But due to Rochester’s size, it’s not really a college town; rather, it’s developing into an entirely new entity: a university city. Thanks to the close connection between the city and the university, Rochester boasts a vibrant arts and cultural life usually enjoyed by much larger metropolitan areas. World-class music venues, international art exhibits, traditional and living museums, and literary events are hallmarks of Rochester’s surprisingly rich cultural scene.

One of Rochester's oldest and most unique neighborhoods celebrates its annual festival of arts, crafts and music. The Park Avenue festival annually attracts over 250,000 people!

Rochester is also the corporate home for many leading high-technology manufacturers such as Eastman Kodak Company, Xerox Corporation, and Bausch & Lomb. In addition to these Fortune 500 companies, Rochester also has a large number of small, high-technology companies that offer graduate students and spouses many options for research in business and industry.

The University of Rochester, along with the Center for Governmental Research, an independent think tank, have created a five-year strategic plan that depends on cutting-edge research and translational science to fuel the region’s economic transformation. The Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and particularly the Biomedical Engineering Department, are poised to be an intregral part of that growth.

Scenes from the vibrant night life in the city.

Scenes from the vibrant night life in the city.

Music lovers enjoying the week-long annual Jazz Festival at Rochester’s trendy East End.

Rochester Fast Facts

  • Rochester’s Affordable Housing: at $119,200, the median home sales price is 57.7% lower than the national average.

    Source: National Association of Realtors (Q2, 2008), NAHB Housing Opportunity Index (Q2, 2008)

  • Rochester’s Easy Commute Time - Average daily commute under 20 minutes.
  • Rochester operates 21 parks totaling nearly 12,000 acres; the parks have shelters, picnic areas, and walking and hiking trails. The Lilac Festival celebrates the city’s historic park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and showcases over 500 varieties of lilacs, giving Rochester its nickname, The Flower City.
  • Beaches and water fronts: with Lake Ontario, the Genesee River, the Erie Canal, and the Finger Lakes region, water lovers will always find great activities, including cruises, boating, and concerts by the shore.
  • Golfing: As a golfing hot bed, Rochester and Monroe County have hosted three U.S. Open Championships, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Senior Open, the 1995 Ryder Cup Matches, and the annual LPGA event.

The UR's jewel of an art gallery.

The LPGA is among the hundreds of golfing events held in Rochester from spring through fall.

The Rochester Philharmonic performs over 140 concerts per year!