A-

Penfield, NY

Source:

Affordability Score: 83/100

Population: 19,804 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Penfield, NY aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 19,804 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of A- (83/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $118,777, median home value of $282,800, median rent of $1,201 per month, and 61.8% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,573 per month (studio $1,116, 1BR $1,256, 3BR $1,895, 4BR $2,083). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $15,028 per year, consuming 13% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Penfield, NY include income, education, housing, commute, rent. Unemployment currently reads 5.3% and poverty 4.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A
$118,777
Median household income
Education A+
61.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A-
2.4x
Home value $282,800 vs income
Commute B+
20 min
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,573/mo
2BR fair market rent (16% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C+
$15,028/yr
Center-based infant care (13% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$118,777
▲ 92% vs national
Per Capita Income
$58,766
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Poverty Rate
4.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$282,800
▲ 3% vs national
Median Rent
$1,201/mo
Owner Occupied
84.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,573/mo
▲ 31% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,116
1BR
$1,256
2BR
$1,573
3BR
$1,895
4BR
$2,083

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
61.8%
▲ 32 ppt vs national
High School+
74.5%
Median Age
45.6
Avg. Commute
20 min
▼ 6 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,028/yr
13% of income
Toddler (Center)
$14,300/yr
Preschool (Center)
$13,260/yr
School-Age (Center)
$11,180/yr

What This Means

Penfield, NY receives an overall affordability grade of A- (83/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 19,804. This area performs well in income and education and housing and commute and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Penfield ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Penfield, NY affordable?
Penfield, NY receives an overall affordability grade of A- (83/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $118,777. Median home value is $282,800.
What is the cost of living in Penfield?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,201/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,573/mo. Infant childcare $15,028/yr. Median home value $282,800.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →