This ratio provides a rough estimate of the affordability of homes in a community. A ratio less than 2 or 3 is considered affordable.

The regional ratio of median home value to median household income was much more affordable than the overall state and nation in 2016-20. The regional ratio increased slightly, from 2.1 to 2.3, between 2000 and 2016-20. In comparison, the statewide ratio increased from 3.4 to 4.6, and the nation, from 2.7 to 3.5.

Among individual counties in the region, Ontario and Yates had the least affordable ratios (at 2.5 and 2.6, respectively), followed closely by Monroe (2.4). Orleans was most affordable, at 1.9, followed by Seneca and Wyoming (both at 2.0). From 2000 to 2016-20, the ratio increased in a majority of the region's counties, with the largest increases in Ontario (from 2.0 to 2.5) and Yates (from 2.2 to 2.6). All counties saw increases from 2006-10 to 2011-15 except Wyoming, where the ratio was flat.

In 2016-20, Rochester's ratio was 2.4, higher than Batavia (2.0), on par with Geneva (2.4), and quite a bit lower than Canandaigua (3.7). Within Monroe County, ratios were lowest in the Towns of Hamlin and Chili and the Town / Village of East Rochester (all at 1.9) and highest in the Village of Fairport (3.0), the Town of Brighton and the Village of Webster (both at 2.9).

Multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.