1st Advantage MortgageIn Rockland County, New York, the typical household earns $109,959 a year and the typical rent is $1,901. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Rockland County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Rockland County
- Work, industries and travel time in Rockland County
- Housing costs in Rockland County
- How Rockland County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Rockland County
- Debt-to-income at Rockland County's medians
- Rockland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Rockland County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Rockland County
- Steps before you apply in Rockland County
- More guides for Rockland County
- Frequently asked questions
Rockland County by the numbers
Rockland County is home to about 341,883 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 13th most populous of 62 county-level areas in New York. It covers 174 square miles of land, or about 1,968 people 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). Of the 35 Census places inside Rockland County, New City leads by population with about 34,458; 18 of the 35 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Rockland County
Rockland County households have a median income of $109,959 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 5th of 62 in New York.
| Yearly household income | Rockland County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.9% | -5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 29.2% | -4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.9% | +2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 25.0% | +8.0 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 54% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.2%, 2 points higher than the state's 14.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.471 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $109,959 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Rockland County
By the Census industry count, 33% of employed Rockland County residents work in education and health care and 12% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 33% locally and 29% for New York. The survey's unemployment rate for Rockland County averages 5.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.4%). Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 9.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Rockland County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.2% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.7% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +1.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.9% | -1.1 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.
Housing costs in Rockland County
A typical Rockland County rental runs $1,901 a month including utilities, which is 17% above New York. By the Census definition, 63% of Rockland County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $596,900, or 5.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 68%. Median construction year: 1971.
| Home costs | Rockland County | New York | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,901/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $596,900 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 63% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 44% | 33% | 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 Rockland County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Rockland County's, from 14 to 24 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Rockland County; Putnam County is highest at $126,257 and Bronx County lowest at $48,676. Some neighbors are in New Jersey. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Rockland County resident follows New York rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockland County | - | $109,959 | $1,901/mo | 68% |
| Bergen County, NJ | 14 mi | $124,884 | $1,914/mo | 65% |
| Westchester County, NY | 15 mi | $118,976 | $1,951/mo | 62% |
| Passaic County, NJ | 16 mi | $87,522 | $1,621/mo | 53% |
| Orange County, NY | 23 mi | $97,178 | $1,680/mo | 68% |
| Bronx County, NY | 23 mi | $48,676 | $1,458/mo | 20% |
| Putnam County, NY | 24 mi | $126,257 | $1,775/mo | 84% |
The communities that make up Rockland County
The table lists the 14 largest of 35 Census places in Rockland County, by population. Together all 35 hold about 325,087 people, so roughly 5% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Sparkill, $26,848 in Kaser. Rent is cheapest in Bardonia ($1,035) and steepest in Hillcrest ($2,577). No Rockland County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 35.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New City | CDP | 34,458 | $173,046 | $2,242 | 2 mi |
| Spring Valley | village | 33,192 | $57,196 | $1,695 | 3 mi |
| Monsey | CDP | 28,160 | $47,629 | $1,892 | 4 mi |
| Nanuet | CDP | 19,799 | $117,167 | $2,308 | 4 mi |
| Pearl River | CDP | 16,155 | $145,063 | $1,973 | 6 mi |
| Stony Point | CDP | 12,728 | $125,667 | $1,749 | 5 mi |
| Haverstraw | village | 12,325 | $75,167 | $2,114 | 5 mi |
| Suffern | village | 11,441 | $104,607 | $2,091 | 7 mi |
| West Haverstraw | village | 10,711 | $86,301 | $1,803 | 4 mi |
| Chestnut Ridge | village | 10,557 | $111,725 | $1,710 | 5 mi |
| Airmont | village | 10,205 | $94,972 | $1,181 | 5 mi |
| New Square | village | 9,803 | $31,443 | $1,799 | 1 mi |
| Valley Cottage | CDP | 9,165 | $133,117 | $2,037 | 5 mi |
| Hillcrest | CDP | 9,071 | $141,743 | $2,577 | 2 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Debt-to-income at Rockland County's medians
Rockland County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $9,163 a month: gross income for a household at the Rockland County median
- 21% goes to median rent ($1,901)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,398 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Rockland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 43% of the adult population. 4.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Rockland County | New York statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 42.7% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.8% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 14.3% |
What the numbers mean for Rockland County borrowers
Based on the Rockland County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 24% of Rockland County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Higher earners. 54% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Tight rental budgets. With 63% of Rockland County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Lender oversight for Rockland County
The New York State Department of Financial Services is the place to verify any lender's New York license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: New York guide.
Steps before you apply in Rockland County
Quick steps for Rockland County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Rockland County
The New York guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Rockland County household make?
About $109,959 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 28% above the New York median.
Is Rockland County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,901 against $1,621 statewide, and 63% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover New City?
Yes, along with the other 34 Census places in Rockland County, such as Spring Valley, Monsey, Nanuet.
Will a Rockland County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming New York as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Rockland County residents?
The New York State Department of Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in New York; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.