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Economy, jobs and prices in Rochester, New York: official figures

The median household income in Rochester was $47,213 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 24th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the New York median $85,974.

Median household income
$47,213
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
7.9%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
19.3 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,081
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$139,600
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
38.1%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
86.4%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Rochester?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Rochester averaged $31,314 a year in 2020-2024, 126th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; New York: $50,712).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Rochester?

Rochester's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.499 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 105th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Rochester, New York?

7.9% of the civilian labor force in Rochester was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (8,334 people), 95th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and New York's 6.4%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Rochester are working?

61.7% of Rochester's 170,615 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 173rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Rochester have jobs?

96,802 residents of Rochester held civilian jobs, 56.7% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 97 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Rochester?

The largest industry group for working residents of Rochester was education, health care and social assistance (34.4% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (12.7%) and retail trade (10.7%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Rochester work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 8.6% of working residents of Rochester, 388th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 12.7% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Rochester, New York?

Commuters in Rochester took 19.3 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 123rd shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 3.6% travelled an hour or more and 36.7% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Rochester get to work?

12.5% of workers living in Rochester worked from home in 2020-2024, 348th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 63.4% drove to work alone, 10.8% carpooled, 5.6% used public transport and 4.3% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Rochester, New York?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Rochester was $1,081 a month in 2020-2024, 120th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; New York: $1,621).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Rochester?

Owner-occupied homes in Rochester had a median value of $139,600 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 30th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; New York: $423,800).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Rochester?

The median home value in Rochester was 3.0 times the median household income, 85th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Rochester, New York own their home?

38.1% of the 93,261 occupied homes in Rochester were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 57,720 were rented, 43rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; New York: 54.3%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Rochester have broadband?

86.4% of households in Rochester had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 53rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; New York: 90.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Rochester have no internet?

9.0% of households in Rochester (8,355) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 89th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 13.9% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Rochester compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 800 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
797Akron$48,076
798Syracuse$47,819
799Albany$47,240
800Rochester$47,213
801Springfield$47,143
802Fort Pierce$47,072
803Anderson$46,909
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 698 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
695Jackson$31,372
696Enid$31,366
697Abilene$31,321
698Rochester$31,314
699Rockford$31,263
700El Cajon$31,254
701New Britain$31,171
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 105 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
102Charlotte0.500
103Appleton0.500
104Kingsport0.499
105Rochester0.499
106Waterbury0.499
107Fayetteville0.499
108Bridgeport0.498
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 95 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
92Warren8.0%
93Hemet8.0%
94Meriden8.0%
95Rochester7.9%
96Perris7.9%
97Fayetteville7.9%
98Dearborn Heights7.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 651 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
648McAllen61.7%
649Porterville61.7%
650Longview61.7%
651Rochester61.7%
652Bethlehem61.7%
653Hanford61.7%
654Grand Junction61.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 701 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
698Lenexa19.4
699Minnetonka19.3
700Scranton19.3
701Rochester19.3
702Appleton19.3
703Springdale19.3
704San Angelo19.2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 476 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
473Manhattan12.6%
474Chula Vista12.6%
475Johnson City12.5%
476Rochester12.5%
477Inglewood12.5%
478Clifton12.5%
479Haverhill12.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 80 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
77Atlanta5.7%
78Shoreline5.7%
79St. Louis5.7%
80Rochester5.6%
81San Rafael5.6%
82Burien5.6%
83South San Francisco5.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 436 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
433Tempe8.7%
434Spokane Valley8.7%
435Marana8.7%
436Rochester8.6%
437Salt Lake City8.6%
438Ankeny8.6%
439St. Louis8.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 22 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
19College Station35.4%
20Syracuse35.0%
21Pittsburgh34.6%
22Rochester34.4%
23Durham34.3%
24Provo34.2%
25Grand Forks34.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 704 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
701Gulfport$1,086
702Pueblo$1,082
703Twin Falls$1,082
704Rochester$1,081
705Lafayette$1,079
706Kalamazoo$1,078
707Idaho Falls$1,075
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 794 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
791Harlingen$140,600
792South Bend$140,400
793Brownsville$139,900
794Rochester$139,600
795Elkhart$139,500
796Lorain$139,200
797Syracuse$138,400
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 736 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
733League City3.0x
734Madison3.0x
735Blue Springs3.0x
736Rochester3.0x
737O'Fallon3.0x
738Des Moines3.0x
739Wichita3.0x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 781 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
778San Francisco38.2%
779Albany38.2%
780Irving38.1%
781Rochester38.1%
782Trenton37.9%
783Gainesville37.7%
784Albany37.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 771 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
768Reading86.5%
769Newark86.4%
770Camden86.4%
771Rochester86.4%
772Fall River86.4%
773Compton86.3%
774Richmond86.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Rochester ranks 89 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
86Elizabeth9.1%
87Montebello9.0%
88Erie9.0%
89Rochester9.0%
90Largo8.9%
91Sioux City8.9%
92Milwaukee8.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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