The Town FilesRiga, New York
Town in Monroe County · population 5,586 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,600
- Household income
- $100,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 79 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 48.2
Riga is a town of 5,586 people in Monroe County, New York. The median home is worth $227,600, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 99% of New York towns, better for cycling than 81% of New York towns, better for families than 79% of New York towns.
How Riga 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 Riga is worth $227,600, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $100,750, which is more affordable than 72% of New York towns. Median rent is $907 a month. 87.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riga | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $907 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $100,750 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Riga
| People | Riga | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 91.1% |
Weather in Riga
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 78.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Riga since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 29, 2020 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 2, 1963.
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 Riga itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near Riga
- Bergen, NY4.4 mi · 3,120 people · home $170,000
- Wheatland, NY5.5 mi · 4,897 people · home $183,100
- Chili, NY6.5 mi · 29,123 people · home $206,000
- Ogden, NY7.1 mi · 20,270 people · home $235,200
- Sweden, NY7.4 mi · 13,244 people · home $186,800
- Le Roy, NY7.5 mi · 7,662 people · home $177,500
- Spencerport, NY8.3 mi · 3,685 people · home $188,400
- Caledonia, NY8.7 mi · 4,154 people · home $189,000
Riga questions
Is Riga, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riga scores better for retirees than 63% of New York towns and quieter than 56%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Riga?
The median owner-occupied home in Riga is valued at $227,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,750, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $907 a month.
What is the weather like in Riga?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 78.7 inches of snow.
Does Riga get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Riga since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 29, 2020. 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)