Housing decision brief
Chemung County, NY Housing Market
Chemung County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
9th lowest home value out of 62 New York counties with data | 37th lowest rent out of 62
Median home value
$132,100
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,020/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$952/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.1x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
31.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$68/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$132,100 median home value is 26% below New York county median
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $68/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$63,469 median income is 10% below New York county median
Tax rate needs attention
2.52% effective property-tax rate is 26% above New York county median
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Buyers focused only on purchase price and ignoring annual property tax
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Chemung County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $132,100 | $179,500 | $281,900 | 26% favorable26% below New York county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,020 | $943 | $1,163 | 8% pressure8% above New York county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $952 | $1,080 | $1,672 | 12% favorable12% below New York county median |
Median household income | $63,469 | $70,695 | $74,755 | 10% pressure10% below New York county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 2.52% | 2.00% | 1.02% | 26% pressure26% above New York county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 31.00% | 29.00% | N/A | 7% pressure31.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$22,669
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$22,669
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Chemung County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $1,020/month representing approximately 19.3% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 31.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Chemung County pay $1,020/month on average, compared to $952/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 7%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $40,800/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $40,800/year. With a median household income of $63,469, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 31.0% of renter households in Chemung County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Chemung County sits 7% more expensive than Clinton County ($956/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, NY | $141,600 | $921/mo | Same-state comparison near $141,600 home value and $921/mo rent. |
| Steuben County, NY | $128,600 | $878/mo | Same-state comparison near $128,600 home value and $878/mo rent. |
| Orleans County, NY | $126,200 | $877/mo | Same-state comparison near $126,200 home value and $877/mo rent. |
| Oswego County, NY | $139,600 | $943/mo | Same-state comparison near $139,600 home value and $943/mo rent. |
| Seneca County, NY | $142,700 | $925/mo | Same-state comparison near $142,700 home value and $925/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Chemung County
Is Chemung County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Chemung County?
How much income do you need for housing in Chemung County?
What should I double-check before moving to Chemung County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.