The Town FilesPenfield, New York
Town in Monroe County · population 39,438 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $291,500
- Household income
- $119,154
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.0
Penfield is a town of 39,438 people in Monroe County, New York. The median home is worth $291,500, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more upscale than 88% of New York towns, better for retirees than 76% of New York towns, better for families than 75% of New York towns.
How Penfield ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Penfield is worth $291,500, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $119,154, which is more affordable than 67% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,473 a month. 80.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Penfield | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $291,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,473 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $119,154 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Penfield
| People | Penfield | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 23.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 91.1% |
Weather in Penfield
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 17.4°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Penfield since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 11, 2003 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 11, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 6, 1985.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 30, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3262: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 382,138 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,838 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Penfield itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Penfield
5 public schools with 4,072 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PENFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,398 | 11.7 |
| BAY TRAIL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,104 | 11.3 |
| SCRIBNER ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 565 | 9.7 |
| COBBLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 554 | 10.5 |
| HARRIS HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 451 | 10.5 |
Towns near Penfield
- East Rochester, NY3.5 mi · 6,334 people · home $143,500
- Fairport, NY3.6 mi · 5,501 people · home $278,100
- Webster, NY4.6 mi · 5,651 people · home $218,400
- Perinton, NY5.1 mi · 47,479 people · home $310,200
- Webster, NY5.4 mi · 45,327 people · home $269,000
- Gananda, NY5.7 mi · 5,867 people · home $235,900
- Walworth, NY6.6 mi · 9,253 people · home $232,000
- Pittsford, NY6.7 mi · 30,617 people · home $389,100
Penfield questions
Is Penfield, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Penfield scores better for retirees than 76% of New York towns and quieter than 37%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Penfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Penfield is valued at $291,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,154, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,473 a month.
What is the weather like in Penfield?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 17.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 85.9 inches of snow.
Does Penfield get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Penfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 11, 2003. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)