The Orange-Rockland-Westchester area is located in downstate New York in the Lower Hudson Valley and has a population of 1.7 million. Westchester County is the most densely populated of the three counties, and accounts for more than half of the population. The largest cities in the area include Yonkers, White Plains, and New Rochelle—all in Westchester County. Many residents commute from this region to New York City, though Westchester itself has become a major employment hub. Decades ago, manufacturing was a large employer, but today the share of workers in manufacturing is less than half the national share. The health and education sector has been adding jobs at a rapid clip and has become an increasingly important employer in the area. Leisure and hospitality has also been growing significantly. All three counties have above-average incomes, and educational attainment is high, particularly in Westchester County.
Orange-Rockland- Westchester |
New York City* | Long Island | New York State | USA | |
Population1 | 1,675,000 | 8,399,000 | 2,839,000 | 19,542,000 | 327,167,000 |
Pop growth, 10-year change1 | 3.9% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 1.7% | 7.6% |
GDP, billions2 | $118 | $937 | $186 | $1,598 | $19,485 |
Job growth, 5-year change1 | 6.7% | 13.2% | 5.0% | 8.0% | 9.3% |
Median household income2 | $83,000 | $60,000 | $100,000 | $64,000 | $60,000 |
Median home price2 | $320,000 | $575,000 | $420,000 | $300,000 | $200,000 |
Pop share age 25+ with BA+2 | 43.0% | 37.3% | 40.6% | 36.0% | 32.0% |