1st Advantage MortgageOrleans County households have a median income of $65,969 and median rent of $874 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in New York before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Orleans County
- What it costs to live in Orleans County
- Household income in Orleans County
- Employment and commuting in Orleans County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Orleans County
- Debt-to-income at Orleans County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Orleans County
- People and households in Orleans County
- Who licenses lenders for Orleans County residents
- Checklist for Orleans County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Orleans County
Orleans County is home to about 39,608 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 55th most populous of 62 county-level areas in New York. It covers 391 square miles of land, or about 101 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Rochester, NY metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Medina is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 5,770 people (15% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Orleans County
Renters in Orleans County pay a median of $874 a month, 46% below the New York figure of $1,621. By the Census definition, 39% of Orleans County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $140,800, a typical Orleans County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes.
| Measure | Orleans County | New York | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $874/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $140,800 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.7% | 2.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Orleans County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Household income in Orleans County
At $65,969, the typical Orleans County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 50th among New York's 62 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Orleans County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +10.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -13.3 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 12.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.0%). None of these numbers decides a Orleans County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Orleans County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Orleans County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Compared with New York, the county leans toward manufacturing (16% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.1% in Orleans County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 7.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Orleans County workers | vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | -3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.9% | +10.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -6.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.2% | -2.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Genesee County at 23 miles out to Erie County at 50. Income ranges from $69,110 in Wyoming County to $76,382 in Monroe County; all six of these neighbors top Orleans County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans County | - | $65,969 | $874/mo | 77% |
| Genesee County, NY | 23 mi | $73,314 | $929/mo | 74% |
| Monroe County, NY | 26 mi | $76,382 | $1,173/mo | 64% |
| Niagara County, NY | 31 mi | $69,633 | $899/mo | 71% |
| Wyoming County, NY | 44 mi | $69,110 | $802/mo | 76% |
| Livingston County, NY | 47 mi | $74,001 | $931/mo | 76% |
| Erie County, NY | 50 mi | $72,839 | $1,090/mo | 66% |
Places inside Orleans County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 35% of Orleans County residents live in one of the 4. Lyndonville has the highest median household income on the list ($66,000) and Albion the lowest ($41,581), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Lyndonville ($788) and steepest in Medina ($906). None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medina | village | 5,770 | $59,231 | $906 | 12 mi |
| Albion | village | 5,506 | $41,581 | $881 | 7 mi |
| Holley | village | 1,927 | $64,600 | $816 | 12 mi |
| Lyndonville | village | 771 | $66,000 | $788 | 9 mi |
Debt-to-income at Orleans County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Orleans County's medians:
- $5,497 a month: gross income for a household at the Orleans County median
- Rent at the median, $874, takes 16% of that
- Under a 35% cap, $1,924 total minus rent leaves $1,050
- Under a 45% cap, $2,474 total minus rent leaves $1,600
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Orleans County's.
Borrowing situations common in Orleans County
Where the Orleans County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Orleans County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidating cards in Orleans County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
People and households in Orleans County
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Orleans County | New York | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.9% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.0% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.9% |
Who licenses lenders for Orleans County residents
Consumer lenders serving Orleans County are licensed by the state, not the county; in New York that is the New York State Department of Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: New York guide.
Checklist for Orleans County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Orleans County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The New York guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Orleans County earn?
The median is $65,969; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Orleans County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $874 a month; 39% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Orleans County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Orleans County?
By population: Medina, Albion, Holley, Lyndonville. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Orleans County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.