Cost of Living in Oswego 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 Oswego County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Oswego County ranks #2,219 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 29%)
Sourced county brief
Oswego County Official Rent-to-Income Percentage Measured at 30.5%
The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) in Oswego County is 30.5%. This measurement is 0.7 percentage points higher than the New York state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 29.8%. The median gross rent for the county is $967 per month, which is lower than the state unweighted county mean of $1,168. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost is $1,080, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $1,352. The median value of owner-occupied housing units in Oswego County is $151,700, while the state unweighted county mean value is $281,200. Renter households have a median income of $38,374. These data points provide a descriptive analysis of the county’s housing landscape during the five-year reporting period. 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: Oswego County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.5% of renter household income in Oswego County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $967 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,080. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,680 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. Oswego County's $967 median is 17.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Oswego County
Rent Burden
16.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,614
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.7%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Oswego County
Median home value is $151,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,211 vs. your max of $1,614.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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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
What is the cost of living in Oswego County, New York?
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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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