City Report · NY

Johnson City

Pop. 14,940·114th most expensive in New York·Johnson City rents are up 22.0% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,280/mo
Year-over-Year
+22.0%
Month-over-Month
+4.8%
vs US Median
-$682
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Johnson City rents
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Johnson City · $1,280
More affordable than 89% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,280/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$51,000/yr
Local median income
$56,283/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Johnson City's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$880
1 BR
$960
2 BR
$1,210
3 BR
$1,560
4 BR+
$1,780
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,210/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,280 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$15,360/yr
At $1,280/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 22.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+22.0% YoY, +4.8% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Johnson City, NY is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 29.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
14,940
Median income
$56,283
Median age
40.7
Renters
47.7%
Age distribution
18.1%
26.7%
20.2%
12.7%
22.4%
Under 1818.1%
18–3426.7%
35–5420.2%
55–6412.7%
65+22.4%
Gender
45.8%
54.2%
Male45.8%
Female54.2%
Race & ethnicity
69.9%
White69.9%
Black7.4%
Hispanic4%
Asian11.8%
Other6.9%
Education (25+)
12.6%
27.9%
29.9%
29.6%
No HS diploma12.6%
HS diploma27.9%
Some college29.9%
Bachelor's+29.6%
Housing tenure
52.3%
47.7%
Owner52.3%
Renter47.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Johnson City, NY has changed in 5 years

Income
$45,545 → $56,283
up 23.6%
Population
15,275 → 14,940
down 2.2%
Renter share
45.7% → 47.7%
+2.0 pts
Bachelor's+
27.1% → 29.6%
+2.5 pts
Median age
37.4 → 40.7
+3.3 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Johnson City, NY now reports about $56,283, up from $45,545 in 2021. Census counts show Johnson City, NY losing about 335 residents over the five-year window, down 2.2% on net. The renter share has risen from 45.7% to 47.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 27.1% to 29.6% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Johnson City

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Johnson City rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Johnson City on your salary?

At $1,280/mo, how Johnson City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Johnson City rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Johnson City. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Johnson City

About renting in Johnson City, NY

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Johnson City is $1,280/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $880/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,210/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $960/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,560/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($56,283/yr), Johnson City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 22.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Johnson City an affordable city for renters?

Johnson City is considered affordable for renters. At $1,280/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($56,283/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Johnson City falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Johnson City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,280/mo in Johnson City. The local median household income is $56,283/yr, meaning the typical Johnson City household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Johnson City?

Rent in Johnson City has increased 22.0% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Johnson City rent compare to other cities in New York?

Johnson City is one of the more affordable cities in New York for rent, ranking #114 out of 125 tracked cities at $1,280/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Johnson City?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Johnson City ($1,280/mo): Endicott ($1,246/mo), Binghamton ($1,261/mo).

What percentage of Johnson City residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 47.7% of Johnson City households are renters, while 52.3% are owner-occupied. Johnson City leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Johnson City rent compare to the national average?

Johnson City's median rent of $1,280/mo is $682 (35%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within New York, it ranks #114 out of 125 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,280/mo, rent takes ~27% of Johnson City's median household income ($56,283/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Johnson City 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4–10.9%
Run the Johnson City affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Johnson City
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Johnson City, NY

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Johnson City.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google