Rochester NY
New York · Pop. 208,772
Rochester, NY: median household income of $47,213, median rent of $1,081/mo, 7.9% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$47,213
per year
Median Rent
$1,081
per month
Median Home
$140k
home value
Unemployment
7.9%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
27.8%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
19 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Rochester, NY Reality Check"
In Rochester, the rent-to-income burden runs around 27% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $47,213 and median rent is $1,081/month. 51% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $139,600 — that's 3× the median income. Employment picture: 7.93% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 27.8% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 19 minutes — mercifully short. Violent crime: 64.8/100k avg monthly rate (6418 reported); Property crime: 280.6/100k avg monthly rate (27827 reported). Rochester was founded in 1788 — that's 238 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 37.2 sq miles at 5,620 people/sq mile — moderately dense. Elevation: 505 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 62/100 — It Depends.
Local Context
Safety
/100Violent crime: 64.8/100k avg monthly rate (6418 reported); Property crime: 280.6/100k avg monthly rate (27827 reported).