City profile
Rochester, NY
Finger Lakes gateway with Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony heritage and low home prices.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
25°F
Summer avg
72°F
Sunny days / yr
165
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$190,000
Typical monthly housing
$1,388
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
92
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.54%
- State income tax (top)
- 10.9%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.53%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 94/100
Top hazards: Cold wave, Riverine flooding, Winter weather
Nearest major airport
4 mi to Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 59% Democratic / 39% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
208,772
Growth since 2019
+0.9%
Median age
33.7
Residents 65+
12.9%
Median household income
$47,213
Income growth since 2019
+32.7%
Black household income
$36,573
Home ownership
38.1%
Poverty rate
27.8%
Poverty rate, 65+
21.2%
Race & ethnicity: Black 34.7% · White 36.4% · Hispanic 19.6% · Asian 3.2% · Other 6.1%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
572 · 74% above the national average
Property crime
2,818 · 82% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Rochester Police Department. State average: violent 368, property 1,566.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving NY than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: winter storms, high taxes
Highlights
- Frederick Douglass heritage
- Finger Lakes nearby
- Affordable
Trade-offs
- Snowy winters
- High property taxes
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.