Moving from Rochester, NY to Watertown, NY?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is Rochester, NY or Watertown, NY Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Rochester, NY is safer than Watertown, NY (Safety Score 9/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 3,872 per 100,000 versus 4,528 for Watertown, NY — 14% lower. Rochester has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Watertown has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Rochester is 8.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Rochester, NY?
Rochester — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Watertown — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Rochester, NY
Watertown, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Rochester | Watertown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,871.6 | 4,527.9 | -656.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 582.3 | 599.3 | -17.0 |
| Murder Rate | 13.1 | 0.0 | +13.1 |
| Rape Rate | 18.4 | 166.5 | -148.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 153.3 | 37.5 | +115.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 397.4 | 395.4 | +2.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,289.3 | 3,928.6 | -639.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 404.7 | 387.0 | +17.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,795.8 | 3,420.9 | -1,625.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,088.8 | 120.7 | +968.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Rochester, NY to Watertown, NY?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rochester or Watertown safer?
Rochester, NY is safer with a total crime rate of 3,872 per 100K vs 4,528 for Watertown, NY — a 14% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Rochester has a violent crime rate of 582.3 per 100K while Watertown has 599.3. Rochester has lower violent crime.
About Rochester, NY
Rochester, NY, a city along Lake Ontario's southern shore, was once the "Flour City" due to its milling industry on the Genesee River. It's home to a diverse population of just over 200,000 residents. With a safety score of 9/100 and a population coverage of 206,093, Rochester has a total crime rate of 3,871.6 per 100,000 residents.
About Watertown, NY
Watertown, NY, a city along the Black River, boasts the first department store in the nation, founded by F.W. Woolworth. Situated just south of Fort Drum, it serves as a regional hub for Jefferson County. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 24,029, Watertown has a total crime rate of 4,527.9 per 100,000 residents.