Moving to Rochester, NY: the guide we give our own friends

Rochester at a glance

The weather, honestly

Yes, it snows. Rochester averages about 102 inches a year, with January averaging around 26°F. The trade is summers that average about 72°F in July and falls worth the drive to the Finger Lakes. Locals are used to the snow, and life here doesn’t stop for a storm.

• When you buy, look hard at the roof, gutters, insulation and furnace age, and ask how the driveway gets cleared
• Budget for snow tires or all-wheel drive, and a good shovel or a snow-removal service
• Lake-effect snow means totals can differ a lot from one side of the county to the other

City or town? How Monroe County is set up

“Rochester, NY” on a mailing address can mean the City of Rochester or one of the surrounding towns that share Rochester ZIP codes. That matters, because taxes, services, water, trash pickup and school districts follow the municipality, not the post office.

We describe places by their homes, streets and amenities, never by who lives there, and we don’t rank them. For school or safety questions, use the official sources and decide for yourself. Tell us your commute, budget and must-haves, and we’ll show you where they line up.

Taxes and the real cost to own

Rochester’s home prices surprise people coming from bigger metros. New York’s property taxes surprise them too, so look at the full tax bill, not just the price.

• Property taxes include county, town or city, and school taxes, and the rates vary a lot by municipality. Budget off the full bill for the exact parcel.
• STAR: if you’ll live in the home, register for New York’s STAR credit with the State Tax Department after you buy. Buyers since 2016 get the credit, not the older exemption.
• Trash and recycling pickup comes from the City for city homes, with no separate garbage bill to pay. In the towns, it varies by town.
• Water comes from the City for city addresses and from the Monroe County Water Authority in many towns.
• New York income tax applies once you’re a resident, so talk to your tax pro about the year you move.

More on city taxes, older homes and the City’s homebuyer program: our City of Rochester guide.

Getting around

Most people drive, and rush hour here is short by big-city standards. The airport sits just southwest of downtown, Amtrak stops downtown, and the regional bus system covers the city and inner suburbs. Approximate driving distances:

Work and play

The University of Rochester, including its medical center, is the region’s largest employer and the largest private employer in upstate New York. Rochester Regional Health, Wegmans, RIT, Paychex and L3Harris round out the top of the list.

And the fun part: the Lilac Festival in Highland Park every May, the Rochester International Jazz Festival downtown every June, The Strong National Museum of Play, the George Eastman Museum, the Seneca Park Zoo, the 1905 Dentzel carousel at Ontario Beach Park, Lake Ontario sunsets, and Finger Lakes wineries a short drive south. Your first Garbage Plate and your first white hot are a rite of passage.

Your first 30 days in New York

• Driver license: exchange your out-of-state license within 30 days, in person at the DMV
• Vehicle: register your car in New York within 30 days, then keep up the annual safety inspection, which includes an emissions check for most vehicles
• Address changes: once you’re a New York license holder, update your DMV address within 10 days of any move
• Utilities: set up RG&E for electric and gas, and confirm your water provider
• STAR: register for the STAR credit if the home is your primary residence
• Vote: register to vote in New York; registration closes about 10 days before each election
• Mail: file your change of address at usps.com, the official site

Buying a home from out of town

We work with relocating buyers all the time, and we’ve built the process so you can do most of it before you arrive.

1. Start with a call

   Your timing, budget, commute and must-haves. We’ll map where they line up across the city and towns.

2. Get preapproved with a lender who knows New York

   New York closings have their own costs and timelines, and a local lender makes them predictable.

3. Tour remotely, then visit with a short list

   Live video tours, 3D tours and our honest read on each house and street, so your trip is for the finalists.

4. Line up your attorney

   New York is an attorney state, and buyers and sellers each typically have their own real estate attorney. We’ll introduce you to experienced local attorneys.

Moving to Rochester FAQ

Sources

• Snowfall and temperatures: National Weather Service Buffalo, 1991–2020 normals
• Population: U.S. Census Bureau, Monroe County and City of Rochester
• Largest employers: Greater Rochester Enterprise, 2025; University of Rochester
• New resident rules: NY DMV, moving to New York, inspection requirements, NY Board of Elections
• STAR: NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
• Utilities: RG&E, City of Rochester water, Monroe County Water Authority, City refuse collection
• Airport: Monroe County Airport Authority. Distances are approximate road miles.

Leaving instead? Our guide to moving away from Rochester · First-time buyers · How we help buyers