Market report · NY

Rochester, NY

Seller's market

Rochester's market is in transition: +3.6% YoY, median DOM 8 days. Selective deals only.

DATA · Zillow Research (via scrape.do) · AS OF APRIL 2026

$242k
Typical home value
↑0.0%
+3.6%
YoY change
$1,532
Median rent
↑14.2%
7.61%
Gross yield
8
Median DOM
45/100
MDR score
Detail Value Detail Value
Median list price $194,917 Median sale price $220,500
Sale-to-list ratio 1.086 % sold below list +18.3%
Active inventory 532 New listings 348
Trends · 36-month series

How Rochester has moved.

Typical home value $0 → $242k · ↑0.0% (36mo)
$0 $81k $161k $242k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median rent (ZORI) $1k → $2k · ↑14.2% (36mo)
$1k $1k $1k $2k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median days on market 10d → 8d · ↓22.6% (36mo)
8d 9d 10d 10d Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26
Sale-to-list ratio 1.086 → 1.086 · ↓0.0% (36mo)
1.072 1.077 1.082 1.086 Jan 26Feb 26Mar 26

Rochester sits at a median home value of $241,627 as of the latest Zillow read, up 3.6% year-over-year — still in appreciation mode, which favors flippers willing to compete on speed.

74.7% of homes are still closing above list, with a sale-to-list ratio of 1.086. Rochester remains a seller’s market — bidding wars are common on well-priced inventory. Off-market sourcing is the only consistent path to a buyable spread here.

Rents tell a stronger story. The Zillow Observed Rent Index for Rochester is $1,532/mo against a $242k median — that’s a 7.61% gross annual rent yield, well above the national 4-5% baseline. BRRRR and long-term rental strategies have real cushion here.

Median days-on-market is running around 8 days against 532 active listings — that’s a fast-moving market. Speed is the moat; pre-arranged proof of funds and a tight buyers list are the difference between getting under contract and getting outbid.

MDR’s composite investor score for Rochester is 45/100 based on rent yield, sale-to-list discount, motivated-seller proxies, and DOM. Lower tier this quarter. Watch list, not deploy list — re-evaluate next read.

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FAQ

Rochester for investors.

Is Rochester a good market for real estate investors in 2026?

Metro Deal Report's composite investor score for Rochester is 45/100, based on rent yield, sale-to-list ratio, motivated-seller proxies, and days on market. Rochester is a lower-tier market right now. Watch list, not deploy list, until the numbers shift.

What is the median home price in Rochester?

The typical home value in Rochester as of the most recent Zillow read is $241,627. Median list price is $194,917 and median sale price is $220,500. Year-over-year change: +3.6%.

What can a landlord expect to rent a property for in Rochester?

Zillow's Observed Rent Index for Rochester is $1,532/mo. Against the typical home value of $242k, that produces a gross annual rent yield of 7.61% — above the national 4-5% baseline, supportive of BRRRR and long-term rental strategies.

Is Rochester a buyer's or seller's market?

Rochester's current sale-to-list ratio is 1.086 with 18.3% of homes closing below list. That's a seller's market — bid wars are common. Median days on market: 8 days. Active inventory: 532 listings.

Which investment strategy works best in Rochester?

Rochester's data favors BRRRR and long-term rentals — strong gross yield with stable to appreciating prices. See the per-strategy breakdowns at /wholesaling/rochester, /brrrr/rochester, and /flipping/rochester.

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