Community Vitality
Recreation Spending

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Source: NYS Empire State Development

What does this measure?

The amount of money (in 2021 dollars) spent by tourists on recreational activities in the region expressed as a rate per resident.

Why is this important?

Recreational opportunities are a key draw for tourists to visit an area which brings external money into a region's economy and fuels the development of new industry and attractions. The sense of a region as a tourist destination increases regional pride, while recreational opportunities contribute to the quality of life of residents.

How is our region performing?

In 2021, over $101 million was spent by tourists on recreation in the region, up 52% from 2020. This significant increase likely reflects a recovery in tourism and travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism spending in the region equated to $83 per resident, compared to a NYS (excluding NYC) average of $205. Recreation spending at the statewide levels peaked in 2016 and the region peaked in 2007. Since 2005, recreation revenue per resident in the region has decreased 5%.

Among local counties, Genesee had the highest recreation revenue per resident, at $265 followed by Wyoming with $235 which makes both counties above the state (excluding NYC) average. The next highest county was Orleans, at $148. The counties with the least recreation revenue were Livingston and Wayne, at $25 and $23 respectively per resident. Some counties in the region followed the same general pattern, with revenues peaking from 2006 to 2008 and falling sharply in the following years except for Livingston, Seneca, Wyoming and Yates who peaked in 2019. Most counties experienced an increase, however, Genesee, Monroe and Wayne saw decreases from 2005.

Notes about the data

The figures are presented per county resident to allow comparisons among counties of different sizes, but the spending is by tourists. New York State data excludes the heavy concentration of tourism in New York City. This data comes from Empire State Development, which contracts each year with Tourism Economics for a study on New York State tourism. Wineries and other tourism attractions related to agriculture are not included as tourism in this data, which impacts many of the surrounding counties. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the third quarter.

Recreation Spending, per Resident
20052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
NYS$309$356$379$372$329$332$332$343$347$362$381$417$401$391$418$188$277
NYS (excluding NYC)$145$195$209$203$180$177$175$178$179$185$195$245$204$174$211$138$205
Region$88$87$93$90$79$77$75$78$78$77$81$83$85$87$89$55$83
Monroe$84$78$86$81$72$70$69$71$72$70$73$74$75$76$78$45$66
Surrounding Counties$93$100$105$103$90$87$85$88$88$89$94$97$101$104$105$71$111
Genesee$274$289$289$291$235$226$214$227$228$227$234$236$241$247$259$133$265
Livingston$25$20$19$19$18$17$17$24$21$22$23$24$24$26$26$18$25
Ontario$107$106$114$111$103$102$99$100$101$100$105$108$109$110$107$74$120
Orleans$34$134$141$128$109$110$118$116$113$115$123$131$138$144$145$117$148
Seneca$57$54$60$58$49$46$47$46$48$50$52$57$64$68$69$53$65
Wayne$34$31$28$28$23$21$20$21$20$21$23$23$24$24$25$18$23
Wyoming$168$144$174$172$163$152$153$155$155$164$181$194$205$218$222$164$235
Yates$26$25$27$27$24$24$23$24$25$26$28$29$29$30$32$27$35

Source: NYS Empire State Development
Notes: Figures are in constant 2021 dollars.




Total Recreation Spending
20052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
NYS$5,909,350,666$6,807,856,463$7,254,458,470$7,151,653,557$6,350,599,267$6,432,799,915$6,479,809,979$6,718,303,787$6,813,969,792$7,123,404,820$7,480,404,575$8,185,217,625$7,862,342,903$7,641,474,825$8,124,367,125$3,798,834,805$5,502,052,424
NYS (excluding NYC)$1,617,452,258$2,162,970,982$2,318,926,189$2,262,191,900$2,008,347,234$1,978,969,752$1,960,937,567$2,003,546,164$2,014,069,815$2,078,468,554$2,179,319,528$2,736,288,873$2,279,621,351$1,942,967,940$2,348,680,904$1,571,324,041$2,328,839,206
Region$105,767,097$104,752,217$112,783,281$108,562,960$95,575,919$93,263,058$91,597,855$94,689,105$95,054,992$94,140,968$97,992,393$100,464,228$102,236,123$104,200,564$106,322,187$67,032,425$101,086,247
Monroe$61,988,723$57,716,879$63,307,621$59,877,246$53,300,522$52,205,492$51,457,336$53,182,769$53,801,127$52,550,922$54,268,535$55,370,414$55,828,973$56,471,400$58,000,319$34,285,318$50,046,848
Surrounding Counties$43,778,374$47,035,338$49,475,660$48,685,715$42,275,397$41,057,567$40,140,519$41,506,336$41,253,865$41,590,046$43,723,858$45,093,814$46,407,150$47,729,164$48,321,868$32,747,107$51,039,399
Genesee$16,456,606$17,295,843$17,295,179$17,458,100$14,056,434$13,572,359$12,809,930$13,550,534$13,465,400$13,351,620$13,700,841$13,714,111$13,925,461$14,224,346$14,838,928$7,790,427$15,344,134
Livingston$1,613,610$1,321,248$1,255,907$1,236,759$1,146,845$1,114,668$1,109,158$1,526,657$1,373,957$1,390,108$1,453,947$1,512,064$1,552,064$1,621,622$1,646,752$1,134,866$1,563,015
Ontario$11,181,501$11,072,673$11,943,527$11,817,175$10,992,285$11,027,386$10,704,045$10,876,791$11,003,118$10,949,533$11,426,088$11,789,279$11,953,323$12,021,901$11,731,078$8,339,775$13,541,454
Orleans$1,476,252$5,814,565$6,109,639$5,541,502$4,689,688$4,734,544$5,017,298$4,910,909$4,783,368$4,812,724$5,099,454$5,389,982$5,632,311$5,866,477$5,843,318$4,715,468$5,950,747
Seneca$2,007,648$1,904,586$2,131,513$2,057,084$1,734,162$1,637,829$1,660,340$1,616,563$1,692,244$1,742,860$1,824,140$1,988,855$2,205,390$2,312,247$2,350,890$1,795,915$2,200,726
Wayne$3,188,372$2,854,863$2,643,807$2,603,343$2,177,491$1,944,767$1,831,533$1,945,216$1,882,901$1,948,659$2,110,826$2,127,667$2,151,222$2,190,356$2,266,424$1,657,294$2,050,233
Wyoming$7,205,055$6,143,868$7,403,445$7,289,331$6,870,968$6,420,837$6,420,210$6,460,547$6,416,057$6,740,538$7,405,386$7,855,727$8,252,248$8,741,115$8,853,633$6,648,476$9,523,627
Yates$649,329$627,693$692,644$682,421$607,525$605,177$588,006$619,119$636,821$654,004$703,176$716,128$735,130$751,100$790,845$664,887$865,464

Source: NYS Empire State Development
Notes: Figures are in constant 2021 dollars.











Worse than NYS by 10% or more
Up to 10% worse than NYS
Equal to or better than NYS


INDICATORS - Grouped by Topic REGIONAL VALUE YEAR NYS COMPARISON TREND | REGION
Prenatal Care 78% 2019 3 1
Increasing
Prenatal Care, by Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights 8.4% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights, Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality Rate 6.9 2017-19 2 0
Maintaining
Infant Mortality Rate, Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels 0.8% 2019 2 -1
Decreasing
Children in Poverty 18% 2017-21 3 1
Increasing
Children in Poverty, Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Single-Parent Families 39% 2017-21 2 1
Increasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Rate of Child Abuse and Neglect 20 2020 2 1
Increasing
Rate of Foster Care Admissions 1.8 2020 2 -1
Decreasing
Rate of Teen Pregnancy 1.3% 2019 3 -1
Decreasing
Rate of Teen Births 12 2019 2 -1
Decreasing
Tourism Spending $1,399 2021 1 0
Maintaining
Recreation Spending $83 2021 1 -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 84% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate 64% 2020 3 1
Increasing
Registered Library Borrowers 55% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Library Visits 2.5 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Charitable Contributions as a Percentage of Income 0.8% 2020 2 -1
Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles 10% 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
Total Population 1.4% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Means of Transportation to Work 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Population by Age 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Workers’ Commute Time, by Means of Transportation to Work 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Population by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Crashes Involving Pedestrians 2.6 2022 3 0
Maintaining
Population by Age and Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Crashes Involving Cyclists 1.4 2022 3 -1
Decreasing
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 6% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Vehicle Crashes Resulting in Injuries and Fatalities 60 2022 3 -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income $64,995 2017-21 1 -1
Decreasing
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) 24 2022 2 -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Miles of Dedicated Bike Infrastructure 2023 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty 13% 2017-21 3 1
Increasing
RTS Ridership 8 2022 0 -1
Decreasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty, by Sex 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
RTS On-time Performance 0 10 Not Applicable*
Greenhouse Gas Emissions 23.7 2018 0 10 Not Applicable*
Public Assistance Recipients 1.2% 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Energy Burden of Households 0 10 Not Applicable*
Approval Rate for Public Assistance Applications 22% 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Females Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Solar Energy Capacity 122.8 2022 3 1
Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP 13% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Female Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gas Usage for Household Heating 74% 2017-21 1 -1
Decreasing
Clean Energy Workforce 4.7% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Tax Filers Receiving Earned Income Tax Credit 14% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Clean Energy Communities 2023 0 10 Not Applicable*
EITC Dollars $153 2020 2 -1
Decreasing
Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Ports 165 2023 0 -1
Decreasing
Change in Total Jobs 2.3% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Asthma Hospitalizations 0 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Number of Business Establishments by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Food Deserts 35% 2019 1 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Jobs by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Food Deserts in Low-Income Areas 20% 2019 1 10 Not Applicable*
Sector Shares of Regional Total Employment 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate 4.9% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 12% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Employment-to-Population Ratio 59% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation 41% 2021 2 1
Increasing
School Spending Per Student $23,561 2020 1 1
Increasing
Instructional Spending Per Student $16,983 2020 1 1
Increasing
Students Receiving Special Education Services 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Grade 3 English 37% 2022 2 1
Increasing
Grade 3 English by Student Subgroup 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 English by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 Math 40% 2022 2 1
Increasing
Grade 3 Math by Student Subgroup 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 Math by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 English 39% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Grade 8 English by Student Subgroup 2019 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 English by Race/Ethnicity 2019 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 Math 49% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Regents Algebra 1 73% 2019 3 1
Increasing
Regents English 83% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate 88% 2022 3 1
Increasing
Cohort Graduation Rate, Beyond Four Years 90% 2022 3 1
Increasing
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Without Health Insurance 5% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Supply of Doctors 35.3 2019 1 1
Increasing
Mortality Rate 693 2019 1 -1
Decreasing
Chlamydia Rate 53 2020 2 1
Increasing
Chlamydia Rates, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gonorrhea Rate 37 2020 1 1
Increasing
Maternal Health, by Race/Ethnicity 2018-20 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gonorrhea Rates, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County 0 10 Not Applicable*
Early Syphilis Rates 2.8 2020 3 1
Increasing
Early Syphilis Rates within Monroe County, by Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living with HIV 105 2021 0 1
Increasing
People Living with HIV by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living with AIDS 124 2021 0 1
Increasing
People Living with AIDS by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Percent of Days with Good Air Quality 0 10 Not Applicable*
Alcohol-related Crashes 2.7 2021 2 -1
Decreasing
Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment by Primary Substance 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value $151,405 2017-21 1 1
Increasing
Median Rental Prices $936 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Homeowners 2.3 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
Housing Affordability for Homeowners by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden 28% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Renters 32% 2017-21 3 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households 48% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Renters by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Homeownership Rate 68% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Homeownership Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Vacant Housing Units 9% 2017-21 3 1
Increasing
Homeless Persons 0 10 Not Applicable*
Serious Crimes 165 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Violent Crimes 25 2021 3 1
Increasing
Victims of Domestic Violence 59 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Incarceration Rates 10.0 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 2018 0 10 Not Applicable*
Arrest Rates 125.2 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Capita Spending for Local Government $3,731 2019 0 1
Increasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0.70 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
*No or multiple regional values for this indicator


Worse than NYS by 10% or more
Up to 10% worse than NYS
Equal to or better than NYS





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