Decreasing
What does this measure?
The share of rental housing units with people paying 30% or more of their income in rent.
Why is this important?
The federal government considers 30% of income a threshold for affordable housing. Renters paying more than 30% of their income in rent are considered cost-burdened and may struggle to afford other basic needs.
How is our region performing?
In 2015-19, 49% of rental units in the region had residents whose housing costs were above the affordability threshold. That was higher than the national level of 46% and the same as the state rate. The region's rate declined 3 percentage points from 2010-14 to 2015-19. The City of Rochester contained 40% of the rent-burdened units in the region. Overall, 55% of units in Rochester had residents whose housing costs were above affordable levels. This was higher than any county in the region and well above Canandaigua (40%), Geneva (47%) and Batavia (46%). Rental cost burden at the county level was lowest in Wyoming (34%) and highest in Livingston (51%).
Notes about the data
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.
2010-14 | 2015-19 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 48% | 46% | ||
NYS | 51% | 49% | ||
NYS (excluding NYC) | 50% | 48% | ||
Region | 52% | 49% | ||
Monroe | 53% | 51% | ||
Surrounding Counties | 47% | 43% | ||
Rochester MSA | 52% | 50% | ||
Genesee | 44% | 38% | ||
Livingston | 50% | 51% | ||
Ontario | 47% | 45% | ||
Orleans | 50% | 43% | ||
Seneca | 46% | 42% | ||
Wayne | 51% | 42% | ||
Wyoming | 42% | 34% | ||
Yates | 46% | 46%* | ||
Rochester | 60% | 55% | ||
Monroe County Suburbs | 47% | 47% | ||
Batavia | 49% | 46% | ||
Canandaigua | 43% | 40% | ||
Geneva | 46% | 47% |
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.
2010-14 | 2015-19 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 20,011,827 | 20,002,910 | ||
NYS | 1,700,564 | 1,665,770 | ||
NYS (excluding NYC) | 616,652 | 602,865 | ||
Region | 78,564 | 75,864 | ||
Monroe | 56,677 | 56,075 | ||
Surrounding Counties | 21,887 | 19,789 | ||
Rochester MSA | 72,392 | 70,656 | ||
Genesee | 2,862 | 2,490 | ||
Livingston | 3,167 | 3,121 | ||
Ontario | 5,612 | 5,246 | ||
Orleans | 1,873 | 1,754 | ||
Seneca | 1,650 | 1,470 | ||
Wayne | 4,064 | 3,634 | ||
Wyoming | 1,660 | 1,248 | ||
Yates | 999 | 826* | ||
Rochester | 32,012 | 30,150 | ||
Monroe County Suburbs | 24,665 | 25,925 | ||
Batavia | 1,494 | 1,366 | ||
Canandaigua | 963 | 888 | ||
Geneva | 1,107 | 1,034 |
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.



INDICATORS - Grouped by Topic | REGIONAL VALUE | YEAR | NYS COMPARISON | TREND | REGION |
---|---|---|---|---|
Median Home Value | $139,622 | 2015-19 |
1
![]() |
0
Maintaining
|
Median Rental Prices | $878 | 2015-19 |
3
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Housing Affordability for Homeowners | 2.3 | 2015-19 |
3
![]() |
0
Maintaining
|
Housing Affordability for Homeowners by Race/Ethnicity | 2014-18 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Overall Housing Cost Burden | 29% | 2015-19 |
3
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Housing Affordability for Renters | 33% | 2015-19 |
3
![]() |
10 Not Applicable* |
Rent Burdened Households | 49% | 2015-19 |
3
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Housing Affordability for Renters by Race/Ethnicity | 2014-18 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Homeownership Rate | 68% | 2015-19 |
3
![]() |
-1
Decreasing
|
Homeownership Rate by Race/Ethnicity | 2015-19 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Vacant Housing Units | 10% | 2015-19 |
3
![]() |
1
Increasing
|
Homeless Persons | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* |


