What it's like to live in Canandaigua
Canandaigua is a small city in New York with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Canandaigua deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, cold winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 57" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Canandaigua compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Canandaigua
Based on Canandaigua's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,190
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,800 a year
- 38% of Canandaigua renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$45,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $22,910
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,095/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,095 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $229,100. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $229,100 · 38% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Ontario County is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Ontario County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 51% above US
497 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1625/100k · Canandaigua Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 20°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Women's Rights National Historical Park (24 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Canandaigua's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,095/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Canandaigua
All New York guides →Moving to Brighton →
22 mi away · pop. 36,834
Rent $1,350/mo · Income $85,467
Compare with Canandaigua →Moving to Rochester →
26 mi away · pop. 208,772
Rent $1,081/mo · Income $47,213
Compare with Canandaigua →Moving to Irondequoit →
27 mi away · pop. 50,657
Rent $1,159/mo · Income $79,162
Compare with Canandaigua →Not sure Canandaigua is the one?
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