($1,328) Movers From Gainesville, FL to Rochester, NY

What to know before moving from Gainesville to Rochester

Moving from Gainesville to Rochester comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Rochester is generally more expensive than Gainesville, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Rochester are 22% lower than in Gainesville, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Rochester.
  Home prices in Rochester are 30.4% lower than in Gainesville.
• Income in Rochester is 8.8% higher than in Gainesville, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Rochester include Wegmans Food Markets, Paychex, and Bausch + Lomb.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Rochester, since the cost of living for a single person in Rochester is 31.7% higher than in Gainesville. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Rochester, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Rochester is 41.0% higher than in Gainesville.
• The unemployment rate in Rochester is 122.73% higher than in Gainesville.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Rochester, since the city’s sales taxes in Rochester are 14.29% higher than in Gainesville.
• State income taxes in Rochester are 10.90% higher than in Gainesville.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,950.20 in Rochester to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Gainesville.

How life is different in Gainesville vs. Rochester

• The population of Rochester is about 50% greater than Gainesville, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Rochester will be about the same as it currently is in Gainesville. The cities share a similar public transportation score, which means their transit systems are comparable in terms of how connected they are, how often they provide service, and how close they are to jobs, housing, retail and food stores, and other important locations.
• Living in Rochester means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Gainesville. Rochester is considered more walkable than Gainesville, with a score of 61 out of 100 versus 37 out of 100 in Gainesville. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Rochester, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Gainesville. While Gainesville has a bike-friendliness score of 69 out of 100, Rochester earned a 60. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• The crime rate in Rochester is higher than in Gainesville, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 37.54 in Rochester, it is 8.0 in Gainesville. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in Rochester. With a crime index of 36.66, Rochester ranks lower in overall safety than Gainesville, whose index is Gainesville's 52.61. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in Rochester and Gainesville is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Gainesville vs. Rochester move

• Weather: The cold weather and snow might be a challenge if you're planning to relocate to Rochester, NY during January and February. August, July and June are the most pleasant months in Rochester.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: New York requires moving companies to have a license and obtain a New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) number. A NYDOT license ensures your mover is in compliance with the state's safety, insurance, and operational regulations. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a New York moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: New York does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Rochester. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Choose Released Value Protection for no-cost, minimal coverage from movers. They're responsible for a maximum of 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage, discuss alternatives with your moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Rochester

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Flour City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Rochester.

Helpful moving resources