Population 39,608 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Orleans County
Household size in Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.49 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.46 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.41 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.22 | −0.14 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Orleans County are small: just 2.35 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. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.56, 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 Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6 | 39.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 40.4 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.1 | 41.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.8 | 42.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +2.7 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Orleans County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.6, as it has nationally.
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 Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 12.5% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 12.3% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 12.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 11.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Orleans County (11.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other New York counties, Orleans County has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Orleans County
Renters in Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.3% | 30.6% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 32.4% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.4% | 33.2% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.8% | 32.7% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Orleans County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over four in ten owners (42.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the northeast.
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 Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 9.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 8.8% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 9.6% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 8.0% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −1.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Orleans County as nationally: 10.5%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Rochester area as a whole (8.0%). Vacancy has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1963 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1949 | 1964 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1956 | 1965 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1966 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Orleans County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1955, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the west. Few New York counties have older homes: only two of 62.
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 Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $645 | $810 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $683 | $857 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $779 | $985 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $888 | $1,225 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$243 | +$415 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Orleans County pays $888 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $243 a month since 2006–10, up 38%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the east.
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 Orleans County
Bachelor's degrees in Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 32.1% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 32.8% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 35.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 37.9% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +5.9 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Orleans County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.3%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.3 points, as it has nationally. Only one other New York county has a lower share of college graduates.
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 Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.4% | 88.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.9% | 89.7% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.9% | 90.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.1% | 91.8% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +3.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Orleans County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Orleans County has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five New York counties.
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 Orleans County
| Period | Orleans County | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 7.2% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 8.4% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −2.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.3%, unemployment in Orleans County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.8 points from 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).
Orleans 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans County | 2.35 | 44.8 | 11.8% | 22.8% | 10.5% | 1955 | $888 | 18.3% | 87.1% | 5.3% |
| Monroe County | 2.37 | 41.3 | 12.1% | 36.3% | 7.5% | 1966 | $1,296 | 40.8% | 91.7% | 5.2% |
| Niagara County | 2.29 | 43.9 | 11.5% | 28.8% | 8.9% | 1962 | $987 | 27.7% | 92.0% | 6.4% |
| Wayne County | 2.32 | 43.9 | 9.5% | 20.1% | 9.1% | 1966 | $961 | 25.6% | 90.9% | 3.6% |
| Oswego County | 2.42 | 41.6 | 13.6% | 26.6% | 12.0% | 1971 | $982 | 21.8% | 89.3% | 7.1% |
| Oneida County | 2.33 | 41.9 | 12.7% | 32.3% | 10.3% | 1958 | $1,025 | 27.4% | 87.8% | 4.9% |
| Warren County | 2.18 | 46.8 | 9.1% | 27.9% | 17.8% | 1971 | $1,224 | 36.7% | 93.3% | 4.5% |
| Sanilac County | 2.32 | 44.9 | 9.7% | 17.4% | 14.1% | 1971 | $803 | 16.2% | 90.1% | 5.9% |
| Washington County | 2.39 | 45.8 | 9.7% | 23.4% | 13.8% | 1964 | $1,030 | 22.6% | 90.5% | 5.0% |
| Saginaw County | 2.40 | 42.2 | 12.9% | 25.9% | 10.1% | 1969 | $1,004 | 24.3% | 91.7% | 6.7% |
| Sullivan County | 2.64 | 47.4 | 8.8% | 24.6% | 21.2% | 1970 | $1,317 | 29.8% | 92.3% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Marshall County, MS · Mississippi County, AR · Miller County, AR · Miami County, IN · Mercer County, OH · Mecosta County, MI · McKean County, PA · McDowell County, NC · McCurtain County, OK · McClain 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 Orleans 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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