Median household income is a gauge of overall economic health of the region and the financial resources of households.

In 2017-21, median household income in the region was $65,000, below the national median of about $69,000 and below the statewide median of $75,200. Since 2000, median income decreased in the region 7.9% after adjusting for inflation. The nation and state had an increase over the same period, at 1.1% and 6.5% respectively.

Among local counties, Ontario had the highest median income, at $70,700, and Orleans had the lowest, at $54,900. Orleans and Wayne experienced the steepest declines in income from 2000 through 2017-21 (down by 11%), while Yates was the only county where the income grew modestly (2.3%). Most counties had an increase from 2012-16 to 2017-21, with Wayne having the largest in the region (10%).

The City of Rochester had a median income of $40,100 in 2017-21, substantially lower than every county in the region, and down 9.1% since 2000. Median income was higher than Rochester in Batavia ($51,900), Canandaigua ($52,400) and Geneva ($56,000).

Figures for the region and surrounding counties were calculated by aggregating county medians based on each county's share of the region's population. Data are presented in 2021 dollars. The 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.