The 20 most affordable places to live in New York

New York is home to more affordable venues than you might realize. A new internal GOBankingRates study found 20 places where the cost of living is just under $37,000 annually. And some of these cities include popular tourist destinations.

For this study, GOBankingRates looked at New York City cities with a total population of 5,000 (minimum) and calculated the total cost of living using the average mortgage costs and expenses for each metro area. Additional information provided included median household income, median single-family home value, and Housing Score.

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

1. Jamestown

• Average household income: $44,878

• The average value of a single-family home: $121,082

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $670

• Total annual cost of living: $30,167

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2. Ogdensburg

• Average household income: $59,306

• The average value of a single-family home: $108,962

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $603

• Total annual cost of living: $30,515

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3. Hornell

• Average household income: $46,321

• The average value of a single-family home: $109,141

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $604

• Total annual cost of living: $30,686

4. Massena

• Average household income: $48,810

• The average value of a single-family home: $115,826

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $640

• Total annual cost of living: $31,082

5. Dunkirk

• Average household income: $49,003

• The average value of a single-family home: $130,453

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $721

• Total annual cost of living: $31,195

6. Elmira

• Average household income: $43,089

• The average value of a single-family home: $121,602

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $672

• Total annual cost of living: $32,110

7. Ilion

• Average household income: $61,880

• The average value of a single-family home: $150,633

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $833

• Total annual cost of living: $34,786

8. Potsdam

• Average household income: $32,061

• The average value of a single-family home: $173,305

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $958

• Total annual cost of living: $35,107

9. Niagara Falls

• Average household income: $48,535

• The average value of a single-family home: $166,790

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $922

• Total annual cost of living: $35,193

10. Binghamton

• Average household income: $44,331

• The average value of a single-family home: $180,308

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $997

• Total annual cost of living: $35,783

11. Gloversville

• Average household income: $49,155

• The average value of a single-family home: $169,875

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $939

• Total annual cost of living: $35,898

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12. Medina

• Average household income: $63,972

• The average value of a single-family home: $170,202

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $941

• Total annual cost of living: $36,119

13. Batavia

• Average household income: $57,150

• The average value of a single-family home: $193,682

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,071

• Total annual cost of living: $36,184

14. Canton

• Average household income: $62,438

• The average value of a single-family home: $185,615

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,026

• Total annual cost of living: $36,290

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15. Watertown

• Average household income: $49,692

• The average value of a single-family home: $194,853

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,077

• Total annual cost of living: $36,361

16. Fredonia

• Average household income: $47,694

• The average value of a single-family home: $206,537

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,142

• Total annual cost of living: $36,408

17. Fulton

• Average household income: $52,123

• The average value of a single-family home: $175,129

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $968

• Total annual cost of living: $36,434

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18. Cortland

• Average household income: $55,368

• The average value of a single-family home: $197,384

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,091

• Total annual cost of living: $36,514

19. Seneca Falls

• Average household income: $54,429

• The average value of a single-family home: $199,334

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,102

• Total annual cost of living: $36,579

20. Endicott

• Average household income: $46,685

• The average value of a single-family home: $191,856

• Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,061

• Total annual cost of living: $36,996

Dive into more original studies and surveys in The original GOBankingRates research center.

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

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in New York State to find the most affordable places to live. New York cities were identified using the 2023 US Census 5-year ACS. To qualify for this study, the city had to have at least 5,000 residents. Total population, population age 65 and older, total households, and median household income were obtained from the 2023 US Census 5-year ACS. Cost of living indexes were obtained from Sperling’s BestPlaces, and using average national spending costs as derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average cost of spending can be calculated for each city. The median single-family home value was obtained from the Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as provided by the Federal Reserve’s economic data, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the average cost of the mortgage and expenses, the total cost of living can be calculated. The housing index was taken from AreaVibes and included as additional information. The cities were then sorted to display the lowest cost of living first, representing the most affordable places to live in New York State. All data has been collected and is updated as of December 3, 2025.

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