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Moving to
Rye.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it's like to live in Rye
Rye is a small city in New York with county 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. Rye deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, long average commutes, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Long commutes
- Cold winters
How Rye compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Median home value
What it takes to move to Rye
Based on Rye's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$7,002
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $140,040 a year
- 50% of Rye renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$363,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $181,990
- Homes cost 7.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingCensus top category
$3,500+/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $3,500+ 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 $1,819,900. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $1,819,900 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Westchester 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.
Westchester County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 98% below US
6 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 140/100k · Rye Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 53% above US
40 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 39.8 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 4 in 10 workers drive to work; 29% take public transit; 27% 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 & workforce▲ 124% above US
81% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. 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 Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site (9 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Rye's strongest points are county 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. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (27% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Rye
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