Housing decision brief
Livingston County, NY Housing Market
Livingston County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, 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.
24th lowest home value out of 62 New York counties with data | 23rd lowest rent out of 62
Median home value
$169,600
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$912/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,078/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.3x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
31.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$166/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$169,600 median home value is 6% below New York county median
Lower rent
$912/mo is 3% below New York county median
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
2.47% effective property-tax rate is 23% above New York county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
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
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Buyers focused only on purchase price and ignoring annual property tax
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- 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 Livingston 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. | $169,600 | $179,500 | $281,900 | 6% favorable6% below New York county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $912 | $943 | $1,163 | Near state median3% below New York county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,078 | $1,080 | $1,672 | Near state medianAt the New York county median |
Median household income | $72,464 | $70,695 | $74,755 | Near state median3% above New York county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 2.47% | 2.00% | 1.02% | 23% pressure23% 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
+$35,984
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$26,264
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Livingston County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $912/month in gross rent, with 31.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
Renters in Livingston County pay $912/month on average, compared to $1,078/month for homeowners. This market favors renters by about 15%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $36,480/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $46,200/year. With a median household income of $72,464, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 31.0% of renter households in Livingston County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within New York, Livingston County is more affordable than Hamilton County by roughly 6% ($912/mo vs $860/mo).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oneida County, NY | $171,100 | $917/mo | Same-state comparison near $171,100 home value and $917/mo rent. |
| Madison County, NY | $176,800 | $891/mo | Same-state comparison near $176,800 home value and $891/mo rent. |
| Wayne County, NY | $163,400 | $929/mo | Same-state comparison near $163,400 home value and $929/mo rent. |
| Genesee County, NY | $157,800 | $909/mo | Same-state comparison near $157,800 home value and $909/mo rent. |
| Schoharie County, NY | $182,000 | $916/mo | Same-state comparison near $182,000 home value and $916/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Livingston County
Is Livingston County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Livingston County?
How much income do you need for housing in Livingston County?
What should I double-check before moving to Livingston County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.