RANK #397 / 1001 NAT · #28 / 45 NY · POP 753,753
1YR FORECAST: +2.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Monroe County, New York, is often recognized for its extensive park system, with Mendon Ponds Park standing out as a National Natural Landmark spanning over 2,500 acres of woodlands, ponds, and wetlands. Located in upstate New York, the county is home to the city of Rochester and 19 towns and villages, offering a blend of urban amenities and suburban comfort. Commutes within the county are generally short, averaging around 20 minutes. The Genesee River bisects the county, flowing through Rochester and into Lake Ontario, providing waterfront access and natural scenery.
Life in Monroe County is characterized by access to cultural amenities, recreational activities, and a range of educational opportunities. Public schools in towns like Pittsford and Fairport are highly rated. The economy is diverse, with a focus on technology, manufacturing, and higher education institutions such as the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology. Recent economic developments include investments in workforce development programs and support for businesses, aiming to create job opportunities and retain talent. The county also addresses housing needs through initiatives to increase inventory across various price points.
Monroe County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.1% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 6.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Google Data Center Campus
Google
|
$1,100M | Planned |
|
Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative
New York State (with Monroe County and City of Rochester)
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
Eastwater Energy Storage
Undisclosed (Grid Connected Infrastructure likely)
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Applied Technology Center at Monroe Community College
Monroe Community College
|
$55M | Under Construction |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (AES Distributed Energy, Generate Capital, Avon Solar Farm LLC, etc.)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 60/100, Monroe County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.3%, and median household income stands at $76,382 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NY.
By national standards, Monroe County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $213,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,173/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Monroe County are hiring — job growth of +1.3% — but the population is close to flat (-0.0% YoY). Home values moved +4.1% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.37% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Monroe County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.