Rochester offers financial incentives to new residents amid hot housing market

If you’re looking for a city that will pay you to move there, consider Rochester, NY. The ZIP code 14609 in Rochester has recently ranked fifth on the Realtor.com® Hottest ZIP Code in America list.

Greater ROC Relocate offers up to $9,000 in grants for purchasing a home within a nine-county region and up to $10,000 in awards for those in targeted career fields. Eligible candidates must be at least 18 years old, eligible to work in the U.S., live at least 300 miles from Rochester, and relocate within six months of acceptance.

“We have had over 4,000 program applicants since launching the program in early 2022, and applicants have come from every state in the U.S.,” explains Barb Egenhofer, director of talent strategy at the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. So far, 170 people have taken advantage of the program.

Rochester’s housing market is notably competitive. In the first half of 2024, homes spent a median of just eight days on the market—45 days less than the national average. “We are still getting multiple offers with most homes selling for around 15%-20% over asking,” says Jeff Scofield, broker and partner at Re/Max Plus in Rochester.

Properties in the 14609 ZIP code attracted 2.9 times as many views per listing from January through June 2024 compared with the U.S. median; 55.7% of those views were from outside the region.

The hottest ZIP codes list was compiled by analyzing housing market supply and demand using Realtor.com listing data from January to June 2023. The economic research team assessed each listing's number of views and how quickly homes sold.

Rochester's affordable cost of living is also an attraction for potential buyers. “As has been the trend since mortgage rates started to climb in 2022, buyer demand has funneled into relatively affordable areas,” says Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones. In June, its ZIP code had a median list price of $165,000—$280,000 below the U.S. median.

The job market further supports this trend with unemployment rates at 3.7% in June—below the national average of 4.1%. Key employers include Xerox and Kodak as well as University of Rochester and Wegmans Food Markets.

Rochester offers various recreational activities due to its location on Lake Ontario's southern shore and proximity to Letchworth State Park known as "Grand Canyon of the East." Additionally, it hosts more than 140 annual festivals including the renowned Rochester International Jazz Festival each June.

“What makes Rochester special is the friendly residents,” Marcia Layton Turner states about her experience living there for more than three decades.

Below are some listings available:

- **269 Garson Ave**, Price: $109,900 - Six bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.

- **2033 Clifford Ave**, Price: $149,900 - Four-bedroom home featuring a finished attic.

- **66 Martinot Ave**, Price: $149,900 - A charming home with an enclosed front porch.

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