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 2014-18, median rent in the region was 34% of median household income, in line with the national proportion of 32% and the statewide proportion of 36%. Among individual counties, Wyoming had the most affordable ratio (25%), while Monroe was the least affordable (35%). The City of Rochester (41%) was less affordable than any county in the region, the overall region, the state and the nation. This partly reflected the City's relatively low median income ($33,400 compared to $57,400 for the region) and comparatively high median monthly rent ($830, similar to $860 for the region).
From 2000 to 2014-18, housing became less affordable for almost every county in the region, with Yates and Livingston having the greatest increase in its ratio (7 percentage points) while Wyoming and Seneca had little or no change over that timeframe. In comparison, the state increased by 8 points and the nation by 5 points over the same period.
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 | 2009-13 | 2014-18 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 26% | 33% | 32% |
| NYS | 28% | 35% | 36% |
| NYS (excluding NYC) | 28% | 29% | |
| Region | 32% | 34% | |
| Monroe | 30% | 36% | 35% |
| Surrounding Counties | 30% | 31% | |
| Genesee | 26% | 30% | 29% |
| Livingston | 29% | 32% | 36% |
| Ontario | 26% | 32% | 31% |
| Orleans | 29% | 33% | 32% |
| Seneca | 29% | 34% | 30% |
| Wayne | 27% | 33% | 31% |
| Wyoming | 25% | 28% | 25% |
| Yates | 26% | 30% | 33% |
| Rochester | 35% | 43% | 41% |
| Batavia | 29% | 37% | 32% |
| Canandaigua | 29% | 34% | 30% |
| Geneva | 27% | 31% | 34% |
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 | $135,915 | 2014-18 |
1
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Median Rental Prices | $855 | 2014-18 |
3
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Housing Affordability for Homeowners | 2.4 | 2014-18 |
3
|
0
Maintaining
|
| Housing Affordability for Homeowners by Race/Ethnicity | 2013-17 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
| Overall Housing Cost Burden | 30% | 2014-18 |
3
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Housing Affordability for Renters | 34% | 2014-18 |
3
|
10 Not Applicable* |
| Rent Burdened Households | 50% | 2014-18 |
3
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Housing Affordability for Renters by Race/Ethnicity | 2013-17 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
| Homeownership Rate | 68% | 2014-18 |
3
|
-1
Decreasing
|
| Homeownership Rate by Race/Ethnicity | 2014-18 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
| Vacant Housing Units | 10% | 2014-18 |
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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