Cost of Living in Ulster 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 Ulster County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Ulster County ranks #2,898 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 8%)
Sourced county brief
Ulster County Official GRAPI Differs From State Mean by 5.0 Points
The official B25071 Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) in Ulster County is 34.8%. This is 5.0 percentage points higher than the New York unweighted county mean of 29.8%. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,425 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,168. The median home value is $352,500, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $281,200. Median selected monthly owner costs for owner-occupied units were reported at $1,638, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,352. Renter-household income was recorded at a median of $47,196. These data points provide a statistical profile of the county's housing landscape using the ACS 2020-2024 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: Ulster County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.8% of renter household income in Ulster 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 $1,425 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,638. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $57,000 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. Ulster County's $1,425 median is 22.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Ulster County
Rent Burden
19.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,013
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.8%
of gross income
The median home in Ulster County may be a stretch
Median home value is $352,500. Estimated monthly cost: $2,814 vs. your max of $2,013.
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 Ulster County, New York?
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How does Ulster County's rent compare to the state average?
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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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