What it's like to live in Port Chester
Port Chester is a small city in New York with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Port Chester deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Average class sizes
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Cold winters
How Port Chester compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Port Chester
Based on Port Chester's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,056
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $81,120 a year
- 48% of Port Chester renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$116,520
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $58,260
- Homes cost 6.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 44% above US
$2,028/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,028 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $582,600. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $582,600 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 28% below US
3.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.1%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 90% below US
33 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 643/100k · Port Chester Village Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.9 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% take public transit; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% 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
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to 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 Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site (11 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Port Chester's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,028/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Port Chester
All New York guides →Moving to Harrison →
3 mi away · pop. 29,961
Rent $2,616/mo · Income $164,250
Compare with Port Chester →Moving to White Plains →
5 mi away · pop. 60,666
Rent $2,269/mo · Income $110,763
Compare with Port Chester →Moving to Scarsdale →
6 mi away · pop. 18,010
Rent $3,500+/mo · Income $250,000+
Compare with Port Chester →Not sure Port Chester is the one?
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