| Rochester metropolitan area | |
| Official Name: | Rochester, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area |
| Settlement Type: | Metropolitan Statistical Area |
| Map Alt: | Map of Rochester metropolitan area |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | New York |
| Subdivision Type2: | Largest city |
| Subdivision Name2: | Rochester |
| Subdivision Type3: | Other cities |
| Subdivision Name3: | Canandaigua Batavia Geneva |
| Unit Pref: | US |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2930 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1090135 [1] |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 360 |
| Population Density Km2: | 139 |
| Timezone1: | EST |
| Utc Offset1: | -5 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | DST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | -4 |
| Area Code Type: | Area codes |
| Area Code: | 585, 315/680 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Est: | 1052087 |
The Rochester metropolitan area, denoted the Rochester, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area by the United States Census Bureau, is a metropolitan statistical area consisting of six counties in Western New York, anchored by the city of Rochester, New York. Many counties are mainly rural with various farming communities scattered throughout the metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 1,090,135.[1] The Rochester MSA is the 4th largest MSA in New York state.
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,037,831 people, 397,303 households, and 262,131 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 83.35% White, 10.73% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.99% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.50% of the population.
The median income for a household in the MSA was $42,733, and the median income for a family was $50,687. Males had a median income of $36,777 versus $25,999 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $19,626.
The Rochester NY MSA is the third largest economy and the second wealthiest region in all of NYS after New York City. Rochester, rich with patents, has more wealth than its neighboring city, Buffalo, despite population differences.
The Rochester–Batavia–Seneca Falls combined statistical area is made up of eight counties in western New York. The combined statistical area includes one metropolitan area and two micropolitan areas. As of the 2020 Census, the CSA had a population of 1,182,337.
Metropolitan Rochester has the third largest regional economy in all of NYS, after the NYC and Buffalo areas.
As of 2016[4]
| Employer | Number of employees | |
|---|---|---|
| University of Rochester | 27,590 | |
| Rochester Regional Health | 15,753 | |
| Wegmans Food Markets Inc. | 13,606 | |
| Xerox Corp. | 6,396 | |
| Paychex | 4,123 | |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 3,993 | |
| Lifetime Healthcare Cos (including Excellus BlueCross BlueShield) | 3,569 | |
| 3,450 | ||
| YMCA of Greater Rochester | 2,745 | |
| Tops Markets LLC | 2,588 |
See also: Rochester Area Colleges. The Rochester area, particularly in Monroe County, has a large number of colleges and universities. In 2010, the metropolitan area was ranked the eighth-best (among "mid-sized" metros between 1 million and 2.5 million in population) in the United States by the American Institute for Economic Research.[5] [6] Education is one of Rochester's primary economic areas. The six-county region is home to a number of colleges and universities:
Together with Alfred State College, Alfred University, Corning Community College, Genesee Community College, Houghton College, Keuka College, and Wells College and New York Chiropractic College, all within 90 miles of Rochester, these institutions comprise the Rochester Area Colleges consortium.
See main article: University of Rochester. The University of Rochester (U of R), ranked as the 29th best university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report[7] and was deemed "one of the new Ivies."[8] The nursing school has received many awards and honors[9] and the Simon School of Business is also ranked in the top 30 in many categories.[10]
The University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is home to the highest power laser in the world, the OMEGA EP laser.[11]
The university is also home to the Eastman School of Music, which in 2004 was ranked the number one music school in America.[12]
See main article: Rochester Institute of Technology. The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) was founded in 1829 and is the tenth largest private university in the country in terms of full-time students. It is internationally known for its science, computer, engineering, and art programs, as well as for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, a leading deaf-education institution.
RIT is among the top colleges and universities in the nation for programs in the fine arts, placing in the top 10 for many of the college's programs, including Photography (3rd), Glass art (2nd), Industrial design (8th), and others.[13] RIT's undergraduate programs have been featured as one of nation's best in the Princeton Review, and its undergraduate engineering programs have been ranked in the top 70 in the country by the U.S. News & World Report.[14]
See main article: Monroe Community College. Monroe Community College, the largest community college in Upstate New York, has had the top ranking community college athletic program two years in a row and was rated as the tenth best associates degree producing two year college by Community College Week.[15] MCC has four campuses: the Downtown Campus, the main Brighton Campus which houses the Mercer Gallery, the Applied Technologies Center, and the Public Safety Training Facility.[16]
See main article: Roberts Wesleyan College. Roberts Wesleyan was ranked the third-best value private college in the U.S. by the Princeton Review in 2007—the only school in New York State ranked in the top 10. It is also Rochester's only college affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.