Cost of Living in Orleans County, New York
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Orleans County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Orleans County ranks #1,993 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 37%)
Sourced county brief
Median Home Value in Orleans County Estimated at $140,800
The median home value in Orleans County is $140,800. This value is $140,400 lower than the New York state unweighted county mean home value of $281,200. According to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates, the median gross rent is $874 per month, while the state unweighted county mean rent is $1,168. The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) is 26.7%, which is 3.1 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 29.8%. Median selected monthly owner costs for the county are $1,098, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $1,352. The median income for renter-occupied households is $38,613. These figures offer a statistical snapshot of housing affordability and costs within the county. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Orleans County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.7% of renter household income in Orleans County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $874 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,098. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $34,960 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The New York unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,168 per month. Orleans County's $874 median is 25.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Orleans County
Rent Burden
15.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,539
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Orleans County
Median home value is $140,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,124 vs. your max of $1,539.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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