Population 753,753 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Monroe County
Household size in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.49 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.46 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.41 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.35 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.14 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Monroe County are small: just 2.37 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.49 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 39.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 40.4 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.7 | 41.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.3 | 42.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.7 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Monroe County are younger than 41.3 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.9, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 12.5% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 12.3% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 12.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 11.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Monroe County (12.1%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Monroe County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of New York counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Monroe County
Renters in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.3% | 30.6% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.5% | 32.4% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.5% | 33.2% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.3% | 32.7% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Monroe County is about as common as it is nationally: 36.3% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in the Rochester area overall (32.7%). Among homeowners, 40.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.1 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 8.8% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 9.6% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 8.0% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Monroe County: 7.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Monroe County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five New York counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1963 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1964 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1965 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1966 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Monroe County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $850 | $810 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $894 | $857 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,033 | $985 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,296 | $1,225 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$446 | +$415 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Monroe County pays $1,296 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in the wider Rochester area ($1,225). Rent has climbed $446 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Monroe County
Bachelor's degrees in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0% | 32.1% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.8% | 32.8% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.3% | 35.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.8% | 37.9% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +5.9 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Monroe County (40.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.1% | 88.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.6% | 89.7% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.8% | 90.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.7% | 91.8% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +3.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Monroe County have finished high school (91.7%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The Rochester area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.7 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Monroe County
| Period | Monroe County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 7.2% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 8.4% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −2.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Monroe County is close to the national rate: 5.2% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Monroe County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 2.37 | 41.3 | 12.1% | 36.3% | 7.5% | 1966 | $1,296 | 40.8% | 91.7% | 5.2% |
| Wayne County | 2.32 | 43.9 | 9.5% | 20.1% | 9.1% | 1966 | $961 | 25.6% | 90.9% | 3.6% |
| Orleans County | 2.35 | 44.8 | 11.8% | 22.8% | 10.5% | 1955 | $888 | 18.3% | 87.1% | 5.3% |
| Niagara County | 2.29 | 43.9 | 11.5% | 28.8% | 8.9% | 1962 | $987 | 27.7% | 92.0% | 6.4% |
| Onondaga County | 2.32 | 41.2 | 11.2% | 34.1% | 8.2% | 1966 | $1,199 | 39.8% | 91.6% | 5.4% |
| Oneida County | 2.33 | 41.9 | 12.7% | 32.3% | 10.3% | 1958 | $1,025 | 27.4% | 87.8% | 4.9% |
| Herkimer County | 2.31 | 44.8 | 10.1% | 23.4% | 16.1% | 1958 | $838 | 24.6% | 91.7% | 4.4% |
| Fulton County | 2.29 | 44.8 | 12.5% | 28.6% | 16.5% | 1958 | $945 | 21.7% | 90.0% | 3.4% |
| Saratoga County | 2.37 | 44.4 | 8.4% | 27.7% | 8.2% | 1983 | $1,470 | 45.5% | 94.6% | 3.2% |
| Washington County | 2.39 | 45.8 | 9.7% | 23.4% | 13.8% | 1964 | $1,030 | 22.6% | 90.5% | 5.0% |
| Lapeer County | 2.53 | 45.2 | 9.9% | 14.0% | 7.4% | 1979 | $1,141 | 20.6% | 92.2% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Cobb County, GA · Davidson County, TN · DeKalb County, GA · Montgomery County, PA · Lee County, FL · Essex County, MA · Fort Bend County, TX · Hamilton County, OH · Jefferson County, KY · Oklahoma County, OK
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Monroe County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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