City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Rochester, NY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rochester - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

209,720
Residents
$46,628
Median income
$120,600
Median home
$1,573
Median rent (state)

Rochester - the verdict

Rochester ranks in the 15th percentile for household income and the 8th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

15th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
62nd
percentile, median rent
8th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rochester, NY

New York's Rochester is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 209,720 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $46,628 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 22.5%. Home values in Rochester run a median of $120,600, and the median resident age is 33.5 years. About 29.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 487 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 41% from five years earlier. Rochester's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3871.6 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New York scores 107.9 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,573 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New York's average monthly utility costs around $285 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 93.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

209,720 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$46,628 /yr

Poverty 22.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Rochester compare to other US cities?

Here's how Rochester stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 15% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 62% pricier than other cities
Safety 8% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at New York, Rochester ranks #47 of 55 New York cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Rochester's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New York, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

15thIncome percentile
8thSafety percentile

15th percentile nationally for median household income · 8th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Rochester's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Rochester's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 28 Avg. percentile National median
Rochester's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Rochester's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$120,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rochester $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rochester, NY Rochester, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rochester, NY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rochester, NY median $46,628/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rochester, NY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rochester, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 22.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
209,720
Median Income
$46,628
Median Home Value
$120,600
Median Age
33.5
Poverty Rate
22.5%
Labor force participation
57.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3871.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
582.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3289.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
111
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
204,000 residents206,000 residents208,000 residents210,000 residents212,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 210,781 residents 206,108 residents ▼ -2.2%
Rochester's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
487
housing units authorized
Single-Family
29
detached homes
Multifamily
458
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 346
2020 799
2021 45
2022 275
2023 205
2024 487

Permit volume increased 41% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
65.8%
Carpool
10.6%
Public Transit
5.4%
Walk
4.1%
Work from Home
10.8%
Other
3.3%

Based on 94,802 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New York state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rochester sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,573/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Yonkers
209,529 people
Syracuse
146,211 people
Buffalo
276,397 people
Albany
100,081 people
New Rochelle
81,591 people
Cheektowaga
76,251 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rochester's 209,720 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fayetteville, NC
209,692 people
Frisco, TX
210,238 people
Moreno Valley, CA
210,378 people
Fontana, CA
211,921 people
Des Moines, IA
212,464 people
Cape Coral, FL
206,387 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rochester's $46,628 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Johnston City, IL
$46,629 median income
Loogootee, IN
$46,625 median income
Mexico, ME
$46,625 median income
Skowhegan, ME
$46,625 median income
Gasquet, CA
$46,620 median income
Edisto, SC
$46,644 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rochester, NY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rochester, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 41.5% 37.5% 7.6% 9.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19.9% White 41.5% Black or African American 37.5% Asian 3.2% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 7.6% Two or more races 9.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rochester compares to nearby New York cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rochester (this city) 209,720 $46,628
Yonkers 209,529 $81,816
Syracuse 146,211 $45,845
Buffalo 276,397 $48,050
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rochester, NY?

What is the population of Rochester, NY? +

The population of Rochester, NY stands at 209,720 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rochester, NY? +

In Rochester, the typical household earns $46,628 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rochester? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rochester; the closest available measure is the New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

Is Rochester, NY safe? +

Rochester has a total crime rate of 3871.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Rochester, NY? +

The median home value in Rochester is $120,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.