1st Advantage MortgageIn Richmond County, New York, the typical household earns $98,333 a year and the typical rent is $1,733. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's New York license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Richmond County
- Employment and commuting in Richmond County
- Household income in Richmond County
- Housing costs in Richmond County
- How Richmond County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Richmond County's medians
- Before borrowing in Richmond County
- Who lives in Richmond County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Richmond County
- Steps before you apply in Richmond County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Richmond County
With an estimated 494,956 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Richmond County ranks 10th of 62 in New York for population. Land area is 58 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 8,604 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau lists no separate place within Richmond County; its residents live in unincorporated areas covered by this county guide.
Employment and commuting in Richmond County
The biggest employer of Richmond County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 33% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (12%). Compared with New York, the county leans toward education and health care (33% against 29%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.6% in Richmond County. Long commutes are common here: 44% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 15.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Richmond County | Compared with New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.6% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.6% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.3% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +2.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.4 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.
Household income in Richmond County
Richmond County households have a median income of $98,333 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 9th of 62 in New York.
| Yearly household income | Richmond County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.9% | -3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.9% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.5% | +3.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.7% | +1.6 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 49% clear $100,000. 11.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $98,333 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Richmond County
Renters in Richmond County pay a median of $1,733 a month, 7% above the New York figure of $1,621. 57% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 32% spend half or more. With a median value of $675,500, a typical Richmond County house costs 6.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 68% of Richmond County households own their home and 32% rent.
| Housing | Richmond County | New York statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,733/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $675,500 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 43% | 33% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 10% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How Richmond County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 11 to 17 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $80,263 in Kings County to $111,549 in Middlesex County; 2 of these neighbors top Richmond County's median. Some neighbors are in New Jersey. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Richmond County resident follows New York rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County | - | $98,333 | $1,733/mo | 68% |
| Kings County, NY | 11 mi | $80,263 | $1,833/mo | 29% |
| Union County, NJ | 11 mi | $103,202 | $1,730/mo | 57% |
| Hudson County, NJ | 12 mi | $91,795 | $1,894/mo | 31% |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 16 mi | $111,549 | $1,871/mo | 64% |
| Essex County, NJ | 17 mi | $80,789 | $1,531/mo | 45% |
| Queens County, NY | 17 mi | $86,136 | $1,956/mo | 45% |
Debt-to-income at Richmond County's medians
Here is the Richmond County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $8,194 a month: gross income for a household at the Richmond County median
- Rent at the median, $1,733, takes 21% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,217 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,733, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Richmond County
Based on the Richmond County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 44% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Richmond County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 49% of Richmond County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 57% of Richmond County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Who lives in Richmond County, in numbers
36% of Richmond County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Richmond County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.7% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.6% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 15.9% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Richmond County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 12.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.7% |
| 60+ min | 32.1% |
Licensing and complaints for Richmond County
Richmond County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: New York guide.
Steps before you apply in Richmond County
Quick steps for Richmond County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New York borrowers.
- Ask a Richmond County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New York guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Richmond County a high-income county?
Its $98,333 median ranks 9th of 62 New York counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Richmond County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,733 a month; 57% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Can Richmond County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every New York county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Richmond County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New York it is the New York State Department of Financial Services.