New York is home to more affordable locales than you may realize. A new in-house GOBankingRates study has uncovered 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 studied New York cities with a 5,000 total population (minimum) and calculated the total cost of living using each metro’s average mortgage and expenditure costs. Additional information sourced included the median household income, average value of a single-family home and livability score.
Ranked from lowest to highest cost of living, these 20 cities are among New York’s most affordable. Also, see which places ranked as New York’s most expensive cities.
1. Jamestown
- Median household income: $44,878
- Single family home average value: $121,082
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $670
- Livability: 68
- Total cost of living annually: $30,167
Find Out: Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed To Survive a Recession in the Midwest
Be Aware: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too
2. Ogdensburg
- Median household income: $59,306
- Single family home average value: $108,962
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $603
- Livability: 67
- Total cost of living annually: $30,515
Trending Now: What Salary Single People Need To Live Comfortably in 100 Major US Cities
3. Hornell
- Median household income: $46,321
- Single family home average value: $109,141
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $604
- Livability: 69
- Total cost of living annually: $30,686
4. Massena
- Median household income: $48,810
- Single family home average value: $115,826
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $640
- Livability: 71
- Total cost of living annually: $31,082
5. Dunkirk
- Median household income: $49,003
- Single family home average value: $130,453
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $721
- Livability: 72
- Total cost of living annually: $31,195
6. Elmira
- Median household income: $43,089
- Single family home average value: $121,602
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $672
- Livability: 63
- Total cost of living annually: $32,110
7. Ilion
- Median household income: $61,880
- Single family home average value: $150,633
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $833
- Livability: 68
- Total cost of living annually: $34,786
8. Potsdam
- Median household income: $32,061
- Single family home average value: $173,305
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $958
- Livability: 73
- Total cost of living annually: $35,107
9. Niagara Falls
- Median household income: $48,535
- Single family home average value: $166,790
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $922
- Livability: 59
- Total cost of living annually: $35,193
10. Binghamton
- Median household income: $44,331
- Single family home average value: $180,308
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $997
- Livability: 77
- Total cost of living annually: $35,783
11. Gloversville
- Median household income: $49,155
- Single family home average value: $169,875
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $939
- Livability: 78
- Total cost of living annually: $35,898
Discover Next: Here’s the Minimum Net Worth To Be Considered Upper Class in Your 50s
12. Medina
- Median household income: $63,972
- Single family home average value: $170,202
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $941
- Livability: 73
- Total cost of living annually: $36,119
13. Batavia
- Median household income: $57,150
- Single family home average value: $193,682
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,071
- Livability: 68
- Total cost of living annually: $36,184
14. Canton
- Median household income: $62,438
- Single family home average value: $185,615
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,026
- Livability: 74
- Total cost of living annually: $36,290
15. Watertown
- Median household income: $49,692
- Single family home average value: $194,853
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,077
- Livability: 66
- Total cost of living annually: $36,361
16. Fredonia
- Median household income: $47,694
- Single family home average value: $206,537
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,142
- Livability: 82
- Total cost of living annually: $36,408
17. Fulton
- Median household income: $52,123
- Single family home average value: $175,129
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $968
- Livability: 59
- Total cost of living annually: $36,434
Explore Next: The Living Wage a Family of 4 Needs in All 50 States
18. Cortland
- Median household income: $55,368
- Single family home average value: $197,384
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,091
- Livability: 75
- Total cost of living annually: $36,514
19. Seneca Falls
- Median household income: $54,429
- Single family home average value: $199,334
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,102
- Livability: 65
- Total cost of living annually: $36,579
20. Endicott
- Median household income: $46,685
- Single family home average value: $191,856
- Average monthly mortgage cost: $1,061
- Livability: 69
- Total cost of living annually: $36,996
Dive into more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Photo disclaimer: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city outside of 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. Cities in New York were identified using the U.S. Census 2023 5-Year ACS. To qualify for this study, the city had to have at least 5,000 total population. The total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and median household income were sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 5-Year ACS. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and by using the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each city. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure cost, the total cost of living can be calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and included as supplemental information. The cities were then sorted to show the lowest cost of living first, representing the most affordable places to live in New York state. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Dec. 3, 2025.
More From GOBankingRates
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Most Affordable Places To Live in New York
