Rochester Institute of Technology, New York Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Rochester Institute of Technology is a small city located in New York, within Monroe County. The total population is 6,959. It ranks as the 280th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rochester Institute of Technology is 19.8 years. This is 50% lower than the state median of 39.8 years. Only 1.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rochester Institute of Technology is $20,192. This is 77% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 75% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 46.4%. This is 231% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.4%. This is 48% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. Every occupied housing unit the survey reached in Rochester Institute of Technology was renter-occupied. At this sample size that indicates no owner-occupied homes were captured rather than that none exist.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rochester Institute of Technology is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 20.9%. The Black or African American population (5.0%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.0%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (20.9% vs 9.0%).

Education

92.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Rochester Institute of Technology in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 129% higher than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 82.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rochester Institute of Technology, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.