20 Most Affordable Places To Live in New York

New York has more affordable places than you think. A new internal study by GOBankingRates found 20 places where the annual cost of living is just under $37,000. Some of these cities include popular tourist destinations.

In this study, GOBankingRates looked at New York cities with a total population of 5,000 people (minimum) and calculated the total cost of living using each city’s average mortgage and expense costs. Additional information from sources include median household income, average value of single-family homes and livability scores.

Ranked from lowest to highest cost of living, these 20 cities are among the least expensive in New York. Plus, see which places rank as the most expensive cities in New York.

1. Jamestown

• Median household income: $44,878

• Average single-family home value: $121,082 USD

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $670

• Total annual living expenses: $30,167

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2. Ogdensburg

• Median household income: $59,306

• Average single-family home value: $108,962 USD

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $603

• Total annual living expenses: $30,515

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3. Hornell

• Median household income: $46,321

• Average single-family home value: $109,141

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $604

• Total annual living expenses: $30,686

4. Massena

• Median household income: $48,810

• Average single-family home value: $115,826

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $640

• Total annual living expenses: $31,082

5.Dunkirk

• Median household income: $49,003

• Average single-family home value: $130,453

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $721

• Total annual living expenses: $31,195

6.Elmira

• Median household income: $43,089

• Average single-family home value: $121,602 USD

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $672

• Total annual living expenses: $32,110

7. Ilion

• Median household income: $61,880

• Average single-family home value: $150,633

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $833

• Total annual living expenses: $34,786

8. Potsdam

• Median household income: $32,061

• Average single-family home value: $173,305

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $958

• Total annual living expenses: $35,107

9. Niagara Falls

• Median household income: $48,535

• Average single-family home value: $166,790

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $922

• Total annual living expenses: $35,193

10. Binghamton

• Median household income: $44,331

• Average single-family home value: $180,308

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $997

• Total annual living expenses: $35,783

11. Gloversville

• Median household income: $49,155

• Average single-family home value: $169,875

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $939

• Total annual living expenses: $35,898

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12. Medina

• Median household income: $63,972

• Average single-family home value: $170,202 USD

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $941

• Total annual living expenses: $36,119 USD

13. Batavia

• Median household income: $57,150

• Average single-family home value: $193,682

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,071

• Total annual living expenses: $36,184

14. Guangzhou

• Median household income: $62,438

• Average single-family home value: $185,615

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,026

• Total annual living expenses: $36,290

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15. Watertown

• Median household income: $49,692 USD

• Average single-family home value: $194,853

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,077

• Total annual living expenses: $36,361

16. Fredonia

• Median household income: $47,694

• Average single-family home value: $206,537 USD

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,142

• Total annual living expenses: $36,408

17. Fulton

• Median household income: $52,123

• Average single-family home value: $175,129 USD

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $968

• Total annual living expenses: $36,434

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18. Cortland

• Median household income: $55,368

• Average single-family home value: $197,384

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,091

• Total annual living expenses: $36,514

19. Seneca Falls

• Median household income: $54,429

• Average single-family home value: $199,334

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,102

• Total annual living expenses: $36,579

20. Endicott

• Median household income: $46,685

• Average single-family home value: $191,856

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,061

• Total annual living expenses: $36,996

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Photo Disclaimer: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the nearest major city outside of the city/county mentioned in the article is used.

Method: In this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in New York State to find the most affordable places to live. New York’s cities were determined using the US 2023 Census 5-year ACS. To be eligible for the study, the city’s total population must be at least 5,000 people. The total population, population aged 65 and over, total number of households, and median household income are derived from the 2023 5-year ACS Census of the United States. The cost of living index is derived from Sperling’s BestPlaces and uses national averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey to calculate the average cost of living in each city. The average single-family home value is derived from the Zillow Home Value Index. The average mortgage loan can be calculated assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Federal Reserve economic data. Using average mortgage and outgoing costs, the total cost of living can be calculated. The liveability index is derived from AreaVibes and included as supplementary information. The cities are then sorted to show the cities with the lowest cost of living first, representing the most affordable places to live in New York State. All data collected and updated on December 3, 2025.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The 20 Most Affordable Places to Live in New York