About Rochester
Urban convenience.
When Rochester is mentioned to someone from out of state, their first question is often, “Where is it?” Their next question is, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this before?”
Rochester, New York
You’ll find Rochester, New York on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, one of North America’s Great Lakes. It’s a mid-sized city of more than 200,000 people with a metro area of more than 1 million, all set amidst the natural beauty of Western New York and the Finger Lakes region of New York State. This dichotomy of urban activity and natural beauty is perhaps best represented by High Falls, a 96-foot-tall waterfall in the middle of downtown.
The birthplace of trailblazers Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, today Rochester is known as a Top 20 Most Vibrant Arts Community.
Numerous publications have named Rochester one of the best places to live in the US for quality of life.
Economist Jon Gruber identified Rochester as the number one city with potential to become a national driver of economic growth and development.*
Rochester made Forbes’ list of Best Places To Raise A Family in the US thanks to its reasonable cost of living, commutable downtown full of arts and culture, and booming suburbs.
*National Center for Arts Research, US News & World Report: Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream (Hachette Book Group, 2019)
Curious about the setting for your Simon School story?
Learn more about Rochester’s booming farm-to-table and craft cocktail and beer scene, world-class events, and all that Western New York and the Finger Lakes have to offer.
The flower symbols below represent the five-petal white lilacs that surround Rochester and which are the city’s official flower. The symbol is also a nod to the waterwheels on the flour mills that once dotted the Genesee riverbank in the days when this Flower City was known as the Flour City.
Visit RochesterThe official tourism website for Rochester and Monroe County includes information about the Rochester area, things to see and do, events, restaurants, and more. |
Democrat & ChronicleDaily newspaper for Rochester and the surrounding area contains local news, sports, weather, entertainment guides, and classified ads. |
City NewspaperRochester's alternative news weekly offers coverage of local politics, film reviews, guides and calendars for the local music and arts scene. |
I Heart ROCHonest interviews and stories about what Rochester means to people, whether they’re new here or have lived in the “ROC” all their lives. |
Arts & Cultural Council for Greater RochesterInformation about cultural events — including exhibits, concerts, lectures, and dance — throughout the Rochester area, as well as general information arts and cultural resources for the local community. |
Rochester City HallThe City of Rochester’s official website offers info about the city, programs and services, and places to visit, as well as city news and an events calendar. |