How much does it cost to rent in Rochester, NY?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Rochester, NY is $1,532. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Rochester cheaper than other New York cities?

Rochester is among the more affordable cities in New York, ranking #96 out of 126 cities at $1,532/mo.

When was Rochester rent data last updated?

Rochester rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NY

Rochester

Name: Average Rent Prices in Rochester, NY
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 208,772·96th most expensive in New York·Rochester rents are up 9.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,532/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.4%

Month-over-Month

-2.0%

vs US Median

-$433

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Rochester · $1,532

More affordable than 74% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

50/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Rochester's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,532/mo

Expected by trend

$1,531/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Rochester's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,018

1 BR

$1,143

2 BR

$1,421

3 BR

$1,713

4 BR+

$1,884

Research median

$1,421/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$18,384/yr

At $1,532/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (9.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.4% YoY, -2.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Rochester, NY is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 30% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

208,772

Median income

$47,213

Median age

33.7

Renters

61.9%

Age distribution

20.9%

31.2%

23.1%

13.1%

Under 1820.9%

18–3431.2%

35–5423.1%

55–6411.6%

65+13.1%

Gender

47.6%

52.4%

Male47.6%

Female52.4%

Race & ethnicity

39.7%

36.2%

19.6%

White39.7%

Black36.2%

Hispanic19.6%

Asian3.4%

Other1%

Education (25+)

15.3%

28.4%

26.3%

30%

No HS diploma15.3%

HS diploma28.4%

Some college26.3%

Bachelor's+30%

Housing tenure

38.1%

61.9%

Owner38.1%

Renter61.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Rochester, NY has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,097 → $1,532

up 39.7%

Income

$40,083 → $47,213

up 17.8%

Population

211,100 → 208,772

down 1.1%

Renter share

63% → 61.9%

-1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

28.8% → 30%

+1.2 pts

Median age

32.9 → 33.7

+0.8 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Rochester, NY paid around $1,097 a month. That figure now sits near $1,532, up 39.7% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $47,213 today, compared with $40,083 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Rochester, NY losing about 2,328 residents over the five-year window, down 1.1% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Rochester

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View Rochester rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Rochester on your salary?

At $1,532/mo, how Rochester rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $107,707/yr · Rent = 17.1% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $76,471/yr · Rent = 24% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $88,088/yr · Rent = 20.9% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $157,445/yr · Rent = 11.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $201,176/yr · Rent = 9.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $71,603/yr · Rent = 25.7% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $64,649/yr · Rent = 28.4% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $79,686/yr · Rent = 23.1% income

affordable

By apartment size

Rochester rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Rochester. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Rochester

About renting in Rochester, NY

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Rochester is $1,532/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,018/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,421/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,143/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,713/mo.

At 39% of local median household income ($47,213/yr), Rochester ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Rochester an affordable city for renters?

Rochester is considered moderate for renters. At $1,532/mo, rent takes approximately 39% of the local median household income ($47,213/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Rochester slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Rochester?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (~$29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,532/mo in Rochester. The local median household income is $47,213/yr, meaning the typical Rochester household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Rochester?

Rent in Rochester has increased 9.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Rochester neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Rochester are 14615 ($1,207/mo), 14613 ($1,232/mo), and 14612 ($1,268/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Rochester is $1,532/mo.

How does Rochester rent compare to other cities in New York?

Rochester is one of the more affordable cities in New York for rent, ranking #96 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,532/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Rochester?

Henrietta is nearby and more affordable at $1,473/mo, which is $59 less than Rochester.

What percentage of Rochester residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 61.9% of Rochester households are renters, while 38.1% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Rochester has a strong rental market.

How does Rochester rent compare to the national average?

Rochester's median rent of $1,532/mo is $433 (22%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within New York, it ranks #96 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

39%

MODERATE

At $1,532/mo, rent takes ~39% of Rochester's median household income ($47,213/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Rochester 39%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4–10.9%

Run the Rochester affordability calculator →

Nearby cities