Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Rochester, New York
A $121,000 home here costs
$1,293per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $55,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $670. The real number is $623 higher every month, 93% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Monroe County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Rochester against Monroe County and New York
| Measure | Rochester | Monroe County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,600 | $197,100 |
| Median property tax | $3,074 | $5,495 |
| Effective tax rate | 2.549% | 2.788% |
| Median gross rent | $1,039 | $1,126 |
| Population | 209,720 | 754,068 |
The weather behind that power bill
Rochester sits in Monroe County, which averages a high of 82.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 19.0°F in its coldest, with 35.09" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 677 cooling and 6,273 heating degree days, which is what sets the $171 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Monroe County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Monroe County
Full Monroe County cost breakdown · Every county in New York
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Rochester averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Rochester every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Rochester I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Rochester?
A $121,000 home in Rochester, New York costs approximately $1,293 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $670 principal and interest, $257 property tax, $27 homeowners insurance, $239 utilities and $101 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Rochester?
Rochester has an effective property tax rate of 2.549%, based on a median home value of $120,600 and median real estate taxes of $3,074. That is lower than the Monroe County average of 2.788%.
What is the average home price in Rochester?
The median owner-occupied home value in Rochester, New York is $120,600, against $197,100 across Monroe County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rochester?
Median gross rent in Rochester is $1,039 a month, against $1,293 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Rochester?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rochester, New York at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $55,500 a year. That covers the full $1,293 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rochester, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for New York.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.