The Rochester metro is home to 227,252 people (up 5.2% over five years), with a median household income of $89,675. Typical rent of $1,590/month works out to 21.3% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Rochester's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 43.4% |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% |
| Retail trade | 8.7% |
| Professional & management | 7.1% |
| Construction | 6.3% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 21.3% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Rochester market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,590/month suggests a household income around $64,000/year. The metro's median household income is $89,675.
By workforce share: Education & health care (43.4%), Manufacturing (9.4%), Retail trade (8.7%) (Census ACS 5-year).