What does this measure?

The most recent monthly rent plus the average monthly payments for utilities and fuel, as reported to the Census Bureau, adjusted for inflation. The median represents the mid–point of monthly rents (half the values are above the median and half below).

Why is this important?

For those who do not own a home, rent is a necessary expense. The higher a family's rental expenses, the less available to spend on other needs. However, higher median rental values can also be indicative of better homes and community.

How are Cayuga and Seneca counties performing?

In 2006–10, the median rent was about $630 in Cayuga County and $660 in Seneca County, well below the state (excluding NYC) median of $970 and national median of $840. Among comparison counties, median rent was highest in Ontario and Onondaga (both about $710). Since 2000, median rent increased 2–4% in Cayuga, Onondaga and Oswego, remained the same in Seneca and Ontario, and decreased in Wayne, while the state median increased 8% and the national median increased 10%. In Cayuga and Seneca, some of the lowest rents were in Springsport, Weedsport, Ovid, and the Village of Lodi, all under $600. Higher rents were found in Brutus, Owasco, Venice, Tyre (all over $700), Romulus, and Varick (both over $850).

Notes about the data

Data are presented in 2010 dollars. Figures are from the Census Bureau’s 2006–10 American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. . However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%–50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%–35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.