Cost of Living in Tompkins 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 Tompkins County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Tompkins County ranks #2,809 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 11%)
Sourced county brief
Tompkins County Median Gross Rent Percentage Reaches 34.5 Percent
The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Tompkins County is 34.5%, according to the ACS B25071 estimate. This figure is 4.7 percentage points higher than the New York unweighted county mean of 29.8%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,411 per month, which is $243 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,168. For households in owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost is $1,407, compared to the New York unweighted county mean of $1,352. The median home value was recorded at $290,900, whereas the New York unweighted county mean for home values is $281,200. Additionally, the median renter-household income in the county was $44,517 for the 2020-2024 period. These statistics are snapshot values provided by the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. 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: Tompkins County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.5% of renter household income in Tompkins 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 $1,411 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,407. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $56,440 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. Tompkins County's $1,411 median is 20.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Tompkins County
Rent Burden
22.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,727
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.8%
of gross income
The median home in Tompkins County may be a stretch
Median home value is $290,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,322 vs. your max of $1,727.
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
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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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