1st Advantage MortgageWestchester County households have a median income of $118,976 and median rent of $1,951 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Westchester County at a glance
- Household income in Westchester County
- Employment and commuting in Westchester County
- What it costs to live in Westchester County
- Places inside Westchester County
- Westchester County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Westchester County's medians
- Reading the Westchester County data as a borrower
- People and households in Westchester County
- Four steps for Westchester County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Westchester County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Westchester County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Westchester County's population at 999,677; only 6 of New York's 62 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 431 square miles, that is close to 2,320 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 55 Census places inside Westchester County, Yonkers leads by population with about 209,978; 29 of the 55 are incorporated.
Household income in Westchester County
The median household income in Westchester County is $118,976; statewide it is $85,974, so Westchester County runs 38% above New York as a whole.
| Households earning | Westchester County | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.9% | -6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 27.6% | -6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.3% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 30.3% | +13.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 57% of Westchester County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.0% of Westchester County residents in poverty, against 14.0% across New York. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.538 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Westchester County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Westchester County
Education and health care employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 16%. Compared with New York, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (16% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 31% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 19% work from home.
| Top industries | Westchester County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 16.1% | +2.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | +0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Westchester County
Renters in Westchester County pay a median of $1,951 a month, 20% above the New York figure of $1,621. By the Census definition, 54% of Westchester County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $663,200, about 5.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 62% of homes. The median home was built in 1959, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Westchester County | New York figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,951/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $663,200 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% | 2.1% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Places inside Westchester County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 55 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 84% of Westchester County residents live in one of the 55. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $54,962 in Crugers to $250,001 in Scarsdale. Rent is cheapest in Shrub Oak ($1,194) and steepest in Scarsdale ($3,501). Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Westchester County community.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yonkers | city | 209,978 | $83,549 | $1,784 | 16 mi |
| New Rochelle | city | 82,769 | $109,167 | $1,917 | 16 mi |
| Mount Vernon | city | 72,427 | $78,779 | $1,629 | 17 mi |
| White Plains | city | 60,666 | $110,763 | $2,269 | 9 mi |
| Port Chester | village | 31,102 | $92,222 | $2,028 | 11 mi |
| Harrison | village | 29,961 | $164,250 | $2,616 | 9 mi |
| Ossining | village | 26,950 | $103,573 | $2,154 | 6 mi |
| Peekskill | city | 25,625 | $85,954 | $2,036 | 13 mi |
| Eastchester | CDP | 20,491 | $157,202 | $2,210 | 14 mi |
| Mamaroneck | village | 19,826 | $120,000 | $2,157 | 15 mi |
| Scarsdale | village | 18,010 | $250,001 | $3,501 | 11 mi |
| Rye | city | 16,428 | $239,815 | $3,501 | 15 mi |
| Jefferson Valley-Yorktown | CDP | 14,154 | $157,083 | $2,106 | 12 mi |
| Tarrytown | village | 11,784 | $107,106 | $2,121 | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Westchester County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (15 to 28 miles). Income ranges from $48,676 in Bronx County to $128,188 in Western Connecticut Planning Region; 3 of these neighbors top Westchester County's median. Some neighbors are in Connecticut and New Jersey. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Westchester County resident follows New York rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westchester County | - | $118,976 | $1,951/mo | 62% |
| Rockland County, NY | 15 mi | $109,959 | $1,901/mo | 68% |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT | 18 mi | $128,188 | $2,110/mo | 66% |
| Putnam County, NY | 19 mi | $126,257 | $1,775/mo | 84% |
| Bergen County, NJ | 22 mi | $124,884 | $1,914/mo | 65% |
| Bronx County, NY | 22 mi | $48,676 | $1,458/mo | 20% |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT | 28 mi | $89,667 | $1,546/mo | 65% |
Debt-to-income at Westchester County's medians
Here is the Westchester County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $9,915 gross per month ($118,976 / 12)
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,951)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,618 left for all other debt payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,312 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,951, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Westchester County data as a borrower
Based on the Westchester County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 31% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Westchester County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 57% of Westchester County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
People and households in Westchester County
53% of Westchester County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Westchester County | New York statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 53.1% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 14.3% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.7% |
| 60+ min | 20.6% |
Four steps for Westchester County borrowers
Steps that save money for Westchester County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Westchester County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Westchester County
The New York State Department of Financial Services is the place to verify any lender's New York license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The New York guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Westchester County earn?
The median is $118,976; 57% earn $100,000 or more and 16% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Westchester County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,951 against $1,621 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Yonkers?
Yes, along with the other 54 Census places in Westchester County, such as New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, White Plains.
Can Westchester 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Westchester 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.