38 / 100

Westchester County, NY

Yonkers

RANK #609 / 996 NAT  ·  #40 / 45 NY  ·  POP 997,904

1YR FORECAST: +4.3%

5YR OUTLOOK: +21%

Westchester County's housing market is projected to grow +4.3% over the next year, below the national average.

[01] Why Westchester County?

Westchester County, New York, is known for its blend of suburban and urban living, situated directly north of New York City in the Hudson Valley. Towns like Tarrytown offer historic charm and scenic Hudson River views, while Scarsdale is recognized for its upscale character. Commuting to Manhattan is common, with Metro-North Railroad providing direct access to Grand Central Terminal, with some express trains taking as little as 30-38 minutes from towns like White Plains or Tarrytown. The county boasts extensive parklands, including over 18,000 acres for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and water sports along the Hudson River and Long Island Sound.

Life in Westchester County often appeals to families seeking highly rated public schools and a balance between natural surroundings and urban amenities. The local economy has seen recent growth, with an increase in jobs across sectors such as financial activities, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services. There has also been significant investment in residential development, with thousands of new units delivered or under construction in urban centers like New Rochelle, Yonkers, and White Plains. This development aims to address housing demand and reflects a focus on urban revitalization and transit-oriented projects.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
6.6x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.9%

Above national median

Home Prices
+5.3%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
0.8

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
18x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 6.6x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare
    1,000+
  2. 2
    Westchester Medical Center Healthcare
  3. 3
    IBM Technology
  4. 4
    PepsiCo Other
  5. 5
    Mastercard Finance
  6. 6
    Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Healthcare
  7. 7
    Pace University Education
  8. 8
    White Plains Hospital Healthcare
  9. 9
    Wells Fargo Finance
  10. 10
    Town of Cortlandt Government

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Westchester County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
997,904
-0.18% YoY
Median Household Income
$114,651
Median Home Value
$619,000
+5.33% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,796
Average Annual Pay
$94,317
+3.2% YoY
Employment
429,582
+1.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1852
Near national average
Migration Inflow
2.98%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
51.8%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$772,500
Days on Market
43
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
2.7
Seller's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
100.9%
Homes selling above asking
Sold Above List
41.3%
Listings w/ Price Drops
12.6%
Building Permits (2024)
1,592
Single-Family Permits
268

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

B+
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
2.4
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
2.9
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
44.9
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Well below national avg
based on homicide rate

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 →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
38.3
Good
Good Air Days
82%
894 of 1,095 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
13
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Ground-level ozone
Yearly Trend
2021
38
2022
38
2023
39
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$672M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Port Cortlandt Offshore Wind Hub (Manufacturing/Logistics Facilities)
Consortium of Hudson Valley developers and planners
$200M Proposed
Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades
Westchester County
$185M Planned
Station Plaza Affordable Housing Development (Ossining)
WBP Development LLC
$96M Under Construction
Affordable Housing Investment Fund II & New Homes Land Acquisition Programs
Westchester County
$85M Planned
Enel North America Battery Storage Systems (Ossining, Yorktown Heights, Hawthorne)
Enel North America
$56M Under Construction
Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Expansion
Westchester County
$50M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.9% 54 percentile
Population Growth -0.2% 21 percentile
Income Growth +8.8% 58 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.8% 75 percentile
Home Price Change +5.3% 92 percentile
Rent Growth +2.6% 42 percentile
Price/Rent 18x 17 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Westchester County, NY a good place to move to?

At 38/100, Westchester County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $114,651 combined with job growth of +1.6% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.

Is Westchester County affordable?

Westchester County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $619,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,796/month on average.

Is Westchester County growing or shrinking?

Employers in Westchester County are hiring — job growth of +1.6% — but the population is close to flat (-0.2% YoY). Home values moved +5.3% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.

Are people moving to Westchester County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.98% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Westchester County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

How is the housing market in Westchester County?

Home values climbed +5.3% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Westchester County is now valued at $619,000. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Richmond County, NY 38 Putnam County, NY 40 Otsego County, NY 41 Rockland County, NY 32 Dutchess County, NY 46 Erie County, NY 46 Shelby County, TN 38 Providence County, RI 39