Tompkins County, NY at a glance
Median household income
$74,024$6,169 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Tompkins County, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Tompkins County, NY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Ithaca, NY MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,263 | $15,156 | $50,520 | 20.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,466 | $17,592 | $58,640 | 23.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,753 | $21,036 | $70,120 | 28.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,102 | $25,224 | $84,080 | 34.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,624 | $31,488 | $104,960 | 42.5% |
Rent in Tompkins County, NY, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Tompkins County, NY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $74,024 a year ($6,169 a month before tax).
What $74,024 leaves after New York taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New York tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New York
Living in Tompkins County, NY: common questions
What is the median household income in Tompkins County, NY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Tompkins County, NY is $74,024 per year (approximately $6,169 per month).
What is the average rent in Tompkins County, NY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,263 for a studio, $1,466 for one bedroom, $1,753 for two, $2,102 for three and $2,624 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Tompkins County, NY expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.3% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 103.3, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Tompkins County, NY?
To keep a $1,753 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $70,120 a year, or $5,843 a month. That is 95% of what the typical household in Tompkins County, NY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Tompkins County, NY?
On the local median income of $74,024 ($6,169 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,084 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,851 for everything else and $1,234 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,753 takes 57% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Tompkins County, NY?
Homes in New York paid 29.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $265. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.