Rents are 4% above what Middletown's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,442 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Middletown usually run 1.5% below trend in January and 0.8% above it in October, about $56 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Middletown is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2021.
Rent in Middletown changed +6.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 82 New York cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($79,346) is $1,984 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,565); a 2-bedroom is $2,005.
Port Jervis, 13 miles away, rents for 27% less ($1,788/mo), about $7,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Middletown. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Middletown, NY is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 20.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Middletown, NY has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in Middletown, NY has increased from $2,065 to $2,442, a 18.3% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $59,755 in 2021 to $79,346 more recently. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. Renters now make up 48.3% of households, compared with 44.7% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Middletown, NY market of 2022.
Discussions about Middletown
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Can you afford rent in Middletown on your salary?
At $2,442/mo, how Middletown rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Middletown rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Middletown. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Middletown
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Middletown is $2,442/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,375/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,005/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,565/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,555/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($79,346/yr), Middletown ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Middletown?
At $2,442/mo, rent takes ~37% of Middletown's median household income ($79,346/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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