The Rochester metro area: Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne counties · Population 1,058,413 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Rochester area
Household size in the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.46 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in the Rochester area 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 2.49, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only five of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have smaller households.
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 the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.2 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
The Rochester area skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.2, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 39.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northeast.
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 the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in the Rochester area (11.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 the Rochester area
Renters in the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.6% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.4% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.2% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.7% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in the Rochester area rent their homes (32.7%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in New York overall (45.7%). Among homeowners, 40.9% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in the Rochester area than nationally: 8.0%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy has fallen 1.8 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 the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The Rochester area is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Still, homes here are newer than in New York overall, where the median home dates to 1961. Only nine of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have older homes.
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 the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $810 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $857 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $985 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,225 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$415 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Rochester area pays $1,225 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $415 a month from 2006–10, a 51% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.7% 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 the Rochester area
Bachelor's degrees in the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.8% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.9% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the Rochester area as nationally: 37.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the north.
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 the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.7% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.8% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Rochester area is a bit above the national rate: 91.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 the Rochester area
| Period | Rochester area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in the Rochester area is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in New York overall (6.6%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.3 points, as it has nationally.
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).
Largest cities in the Rochester area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester area (all) | 2.35 | 42.2 | 11.3% | 32.7% | 8.0% | 1966 | $1,225 | 37.9% | 91.8% | 4.9% |
| Webster | 2.32 | 46.2 | 7.6% | 28.5% | 4.4% | 1986 | $1,575 | 47.3% | 96.1% | 2.7% |
| Irondequoit | 2.25 | 43.6 | 9.8% | 21.3% | 5.1% | 1955 | $1,278 | 39.8% | 93.1% | 5.0% |
| Fairport | 2.32 | 47.1 | 7.6% | 21.9% | 5.0% | 1975 | $1,409 | 61.1% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
| Brighton | 2.20 | 43.4 | 7.4% | 43.3% | 8.1% | 1961 | $1,409 | 67.9% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
| Pittsford | 2.63 | 47.9 | 4.9% | 10.5% | 2.9% | 1978 | $1,613 | 74.3% | 98.5% | 2.9% |
| Canandaigua | 2.10 | 47.0 | 6.9% | 37.0% | 8.6% | 1975 | $1,329 | 39.5% | 94.6% | 3.8% |
| Penfield | 2.48 | 45.6 | 10.7% | 18.1% | 6.3% | 1978 | $1,245 | 59.7% | 96.6% | 4.9% |
| Hilton | 2.72 | 42.5 | 11.8% | 16.1% | 6.4% | 1982 | $1,416 | 35.8% | 96.6% | 3.9% |
| Geneva | 2.13 | 40.7 | 9.6% | 38.7% | 8.5% | 1952 | $1,019 | 38.1% | 88.4% | 2.9% |
| Brockport | 2.22 | 36.9 | 8.6% | 41.5% | 10.0% | 1975 | $1,229 | 35.2% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Omaha area · New Orleans area · Tulsa area · Honolulu area · Tucson area · Grand Rapids area · Fresno area · Buffalo area · Birmingham area · Hartford area
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 the Rochester area. 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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