1st Advantage MortgageAbout 77% of Yates County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $69,701. 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
- Yates County, NY: the basics
- What Yates County households earn
- The Yates County job picture
- Housing costs in Yates County
- Counties near Yates County
- The communities that make up Yates County
- A Yates County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Yates County data as a borrower
- Yates County households compared
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in New York
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Yates County, NY: the basics
Yates County is home to about 24,526 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 60th most populous of 62 county-level areas in New York. It covers 338 square miles of land, or about 73 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Penn Yan, with about 4,714 residents, or 19% of the county.
What Yates County households earn
Yates County households have a median income of $69,701 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 37th of 62 in New York.
| Household income | Yates County | vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.7% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +10.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.0% | -8.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Yates County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.7% of Yates County residents in poverty, against 14.0% across New York. For a borrower in Yates County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Yates County job picture
The biggest employer of Yates County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). Manufacturing stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Yates County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | -5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% | +8.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +3.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +4.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.2% | +6.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -7.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Housing costs in Yates County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $834 in Yates County versus $1,621 statewide. By the Census definition, 35% of Yates County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $184,700, or 2.6 years of median income. 77% of Yates County households own their home and 23% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1969.
| Yates County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $834/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $184,700 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 33% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Yates 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.
Counties near Yates County
Seneca County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Livingston County, is 35 miles off. Income ranges from $65,887 in Steuben County to $82,324 in Ontario County; 3 of these neighbors top Yates County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yates County | - | $69,701 | $834/mo | 77% |
| Seneca County, NY | 17 mi | $68,089 | $957/mo | 71% |
| Schuyler County, NY | 17 mi | $67,663 | $899/mo | 79% |
| Ontario County, NY | 18 mi | $82,324 | $1,150/mo | 74% |
| Steuben County, NY | 29 mi | $65,887 | $894/mo | 73% |
| Tompkins County, NY | 35 mi | $74,024 | $1,411/mo | 54% |
| Livingston County, NY | 35 mi | $74,001 | $931/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Yates County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Yates County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 8,108 residents, leaving about 67% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $44,583 in Dundee to $96,042 in Keuka Park. No Yates County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Yan | village | 4,714 | $60,190 | $663 | 3 mi |
| Dundee | village | 2,001 | $44,583 | $703 | 10 mi |
| Keuka Park | CDP | 1,121 | $96,042 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Dresden | village | 272 | $70,729 | $718 | 8 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Yates County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Yates County's medians:
- $69,701 a year is $5,808 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $834, takes 14% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,489 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Yates County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Yates County data as a borrower
Where the Yates County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 20% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Yates County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Yates County households compared
25% of Yates County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 19.7%, against 5.1% for New York.
| Yates County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.5% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.2% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 19.7% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 14.0% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Yates County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Yates County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Yates County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New York borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in New York
The New York State Department of Financial Services is the place to verify any lender's New York license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on New York: New York personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New York guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Yates County?
$69,701 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $85,974 for New York. It ranks 37th of 62 in the state.
How much is rent in Yates County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $834 a month; 35% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Yates County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Penn Yan, Dundee, Keuka Park, Dresden.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Yates County or elsewhere in New York, the same rules apply.
Is there a Yates County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In New York it is the New York State Department of Financial Services.