What does this measure?
The proportion of household income that goes toward monthly rent, utilities and fuel, calculated by dividing median rent by median household income for renters.
Why is this important?
This figure indicates how affordable housing is for renters. The federal Housing and Urban Development Department guideline for affordability is that rent should consume no more than 30% of household income.
How is our region performing?
In 2016-20, median rent in the region was 32% of median household income, in line with the national proportion of 31% and the statewide proportion of 34%. Among individual counties, Wyoming had the most affordable ratio (21%), while Livingston and Wayne (both at 32%) and Monroe (34%) were the least affordable for renters.
From 2000 to 2016-20, rental housing became slightly less affordable in several counties in the region. The affordability ratio for both Monroe and Wayne increased 4 percentage points. Genesee and Livingston had increases of 3 points. The ratio was essentially flat in Ontario, Seneca and Yates, and declined 2 percentage points in Orleans and 4 points in Wyoming. In comparison, the state ratio increased by 8 points and the nation by 7 points over the same period.
The City of Rochester was among the least affordable communities for renters in Monroe County in 2016-20, with median rent at 39% of median household income, up 4 percentage points since 2000. East Rochester and the Village of Pittsford had among the lowest affordability ratios in Monroe County, both at 22%.
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.
| 2000 | 2006-10 | 2011-15 | 2016-20 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYS | 28% | 33% | 36% | 34% | |||||||||||||||
| NYS (excluding NYC) | 24% | 27% | 28% | ||||||||||||||||
| Region | 28% | 32% | 32% | ||||||||||||||||
| Monroe | 30% | 35% | 36% | 34% | |||||||||||||||
| Surrounding Counties | 26% | 29% | 28% | ||||||||||||||||
| Genesee | 26% | 29% | 32% | 28% | |||||||||||||||
| Livingston | 29% | 32% | 34% | 32% | |||||||||||||||
| Ontario | 26% | 31% | 32% | 27% | |||||||||||||||
| Orleans | 29% | 31% | 35% | 27% | |||||||||||||||
| Seneca | 29% | 29% | 35% | 30% | |||||||||||||||
| Wayne | 27% | 31% | 32% | 32% | |||||||||||||||
| Wyoming | 25% | 30% | 26% | 21% | |||||||||||||||
| Yates | 26% | 31% | 34% | 26% | |||||||||||||||
| Monroe County Local Areas | |||||||||||||||||||
| Regional Cities | |||||||||||||||||||
Notes: Rent considered affordable if less than 30% of income. 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%.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $143,640 | 2016-20 |
1
|
1
Increasing
|
| Median Rental Prices | $896 | 2016-20 |
3
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Housing Affordability for Homeowners | 2.3 | 2016-20 |
3
|
0
Maintaining
|
| Housing Affordability for Homeowners by Race/Ethnicity | 2016-20 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
| Overall Housing Cost Burden | 28% | 2016-20 |
3
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Housing Affordability for Renters | 32% | 2016-20 |
3
|
10 Not Applicable* |
| Rent Burdened Households | 47% | 2016-20 |
3
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Housing Affordability for Renters by Race/Ethnicity | 2016-20 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
| Homeownership Rate | 68% | 2016-20 |
3
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Homeownership Rate by Race/Ethnicity | 2016-20 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
| Vacant Housing Units | 9% | 2016-20 |
3
|
1
Increasing
|
| Homeless Persons | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* |
Worse than NYS by 10% or more Up to 10% worse than NYS Equal to or better than NYS
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