Population 341,883 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rockland County
Household size in Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.29 | 2.79 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.45 | 2.85 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.45 | 2.82 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.51 | 2.79 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.21 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Rockland County are large by national standards, averaging 3.51 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has climbed from 3.29 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. No other New York county has larger 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 Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.4 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.7 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.9 | 39.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.9 | 40.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.5 | +2.4 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.9, Rockland County is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 36.4, even as the national median rose. No other New York county is younger.
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 Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Rockland County (9.1%), below the national share of 11.6%. Rockland County has a lower share of single-parent households than most 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 Rockland County
Renters in Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.0% | 47.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.0% | 48.7% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.7% | 48.8% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.1% | 48.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in Rockland County rent their homes (32.1%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the New York area as a whole (48.6%). Nearly four in ten owners (37.7%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 9.1% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Rockland County: 5.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Only two of New York's 62 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1959 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Rockland County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. Even so, homes here are newer than in the wider New York area, where the median home dates to 1962. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the east. Of New York's 62 counties, only two have newer 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 Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,340 | $1,268 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,389 | $1,377 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,629 | $1,645 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,035 | $2,060 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$695 | +$792 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Rockland County pays $2,035 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $695 a month from 2006–10, a 52% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 37.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the southwest.
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 Rockland County
Bachelor's degrees in Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2% | 35.0% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.0% | 36.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.4% | 39.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.1% | 43.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Rockland County than nationally: 39.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Even so, the share is lower than in the wider New York area (43.6%). The share with a degree is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.0% | 83.7% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.2% | 84.6% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.8% | 86.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.8% | 86.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Rockland County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged down 1.2 points, even as the national rate rose. Few New York counties have a lower share of high school graduates: only four of 62.
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 Rockland County
| Period | Rockland County | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 9.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.5%, unemployment in Rockland County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the New York area overall (6.9%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Rockland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockland County | 3.51 | 35.9 | 9.1% | 32.1% | 5.9% | 1975 | $2,035 | 39.1% | 85.8% | 5.5% |
| Westchester County | 2.76 | 42.3 | 10.6% | 38.2% | 6.7% | 1960 | $2,238 | 52.7% | 88.8% | 6.0% |
| Sussex County | 2.55 | 44.4 | 8.6% | 16.3% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,719 | 40.7% | 95.4% | 5.2% |
| Fairfield County | 2.75 | 41.6 | 10.3% | 34.0% | 7.0% | 1967 | $2,167 | 50.4% | 89.7% | 5.8% |
| Monroe County | 2.75 | 44.1 | 10.4% | 19.8% | 19.8% | 1982 | $1,505 | 27.8% | 90.3% | 6.7% |
| Luzerne County | 2.40 | 42.3 | 13.2% | 32.2% | 11.4% | 1960 | $1,078 | 24.5% | 89.3% | 5.9% |
| Columbia County | 2.36 | 42.5 | 7.4% | 30.5% | 11.7% | 1968 | $966 | 27.1% | 92.7% | 5.8% |
| Lycoming County | 2.35 | 42.3 | 11.0% | 30.9% | 10.7% | 1963 | $958 | 24.9% | 91.0% | 5.3% |
| Clinton County | 2.38 | 41.6 | 11.1% | 27.7% | 14.6% | 1967 | $899 | 21.4% | 90.4% | 5.3% |
| Nantucket County | 2.71 | 43.4 | 14.6% | 28.2% | 43.9% | 1986 | $2,138 | 56.4% | 93.1% | 2.3% |
| Jefferson County | 2.38 | 44.4 | 9.5% | 25.1% | 14.7% | 1961 | $804 | 18.2% | 91.9% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: St. Tammany Parish, LA · Cumberland County, ME · Cumberland County, NC · Cumberland County, PA · Dutchess County, NY · Erie County, PA · Forsyth County, GA · Frederick County, MD · Greene County, MO · Harford County, MD
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 Rockland 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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