Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Rochester, NY Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

208,772

Median Agei

33.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

36.4%75,975

Black

34.7%72,342

Hispanic/Latino

19.6%40,997

Two or More

5.3%11,117

Asian

3.2%6,675

Other

0.6%1,294

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%337

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%35

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

7%9,799

High School Diploma

21.4%30,055

Some College (<1 yr)

5.8%8,160

Some College (1+ yr)

10.4%14,536

Associate's Degree

10.1%14,150

Bachelor's Degree

17.4%24,354

Master's Degree

8.8%12,375

Professional Degree

2.2%3,052

Doctorate

1.7%2,358

HS or Higher

84.7%

BA or Higher

30%

Graduate+

12.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$139,600

Median Renti

$1,081

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

38.1%35,541

Renter-Occupied

61.9%57,720

Total Units

104,479

Homeownership

38.1%

Vacancy Rate

10.7%

Home Values

Under $50K

8.8%3,141

$50K–$100K

24.8%8,819

$100K–$150K

20.2%7,196

$150K–$200K

18.4%6,557

$200K–$300K

15.6%5,541

$300K–$500K

7.6%2,694

$500K–$1M

3.7%1,321

$1M+

0.8%272

Rent Distribution

Under $500

5,702

$500–$750

5,985

$750–$1,000

12,479

$1,000–$1,250

12,687

$1,250–$1,500

7,928

$1,500–$2,000

8,110

$2,000+

3,674

Year Built

2020 or later

0.4%460

2010–2019

2.9%3,014

2000–2009

1.7%1,783

1990–1999

2.9%3,065

1980–1989

4.8%4,972

1970–1979

7.9%8,260

1960–1969

7.4%7,686

1950–1959

10.2%10,615

1940–1949

8.2%8,535

1939 or earlier

53.7%56,089

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

71.7%66,896

Electricity

22.1%20,646

Bottled/LP Gas

2.4%2,220

No Fuel

1.5%1,396

Fuel Oil

1.4%1,314

Other

0.8%706

Wood

0.1%52

Solar

0%20

Coal

0%11

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$47,213

Mean Household Incomei

$68,287

Per Capita Incomei

$31,314

Poverty Ratei

26.8%

Unemploymenti

7.9%

Labor Forcei

105,233

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

8.9%8,282

$10K–$15K

8.1%7,556

$15K–$20K

6.2%5,772

$20K–$25K

5.5%5,111

$25K–$30K

5.4%5,020

$30K–$35K

5.3%4,914

$35K–$40K

4.4%4,121

$40K–$45K

4.4%4,121

$45K–$50K

4.2%3,948

$50K–$60K

7.1%6,662

$60K–$75K

9.3%8,632

$75K–$100K

11.3%10,515

$100K–$125K

5.5%5,129

$125K–$150K

4.4%4,117

$150K–$200K

5.1%4,760

$200K+

4.9%4,601

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

11,311

Residentsi

17,512

Avg. Tenant Renti

$453/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

25 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing2,171 homes87% occupied$487/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers4,449 homes82% occupied$474/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 82,669 homes86% occupied$393/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC129 homes96% occupied$415/mo rent

811/PRAC43 homes88% occupied$378/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $47,213/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $14K/yr

78.1%

Very low income$14K–$24K/yr

16.7%

Low income$24K–$38K/yr

4.5%

Moderate / aboveOver $38K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

72.2% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

85.5% of subsidized households are minority

34.8% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

37.2% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

17,0578.2%

By Region

Top Countries

China

1,100

Philippines

429

Canada

429

Mexico

414

India

331

Korea

281

United Kingdom

270

Guatemala

201

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

94,493

Avg. Commutei

19.3 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

96,802

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

6,184(3.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.1%Insured

4.9%Uninsured