City Report · NY

Montauk

Pop. 4,223·1st most expensive in New York·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$27,500/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-25.4%

vs US Median

+$25,568

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Montauk · $27,500

More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

231% of income

EXPENSIVE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $27,500/mo, rent takes about 231% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$1,100,000/yr

Local median income

$142,961/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Montauk's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($142,961) is $3,574 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,140); a 3-bedroom is $4,070.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Montauk. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$330,000/yr

At $27,500/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -25.4% MoM), not inventory.

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Demographics

Who lives here

Montauk, NY is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 53.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

4,223

Median income

$142,961

Median age

44.7

Renters

21.3%

Age distribution

21%

15.5%

24.8%

18.7%

20%

Under 1821%

18–3415.5%

35–5424.8%

55–6418.7%

65+20%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

91.5%

White91.5%

Black1.3%

Hispanic5.8%

Asian0.6%

Other0.8%

Education (25+)

18%

25.2%

53.1%

No HS diploma3.7%

HS diploma18%

Some college25.2%

Bachelor's+53.1%

Housing tenure

78.7%

21.3%

Owner78.7%

Renter21.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Montauk, NY has changed in 5 years

Income

$135,927 → $142,961

up 5.2%

Population

4,272 → 4,223

down 1.1%

Renter share

16.6% → 21.3%

+4.7 pts

Bachelor's+

47% → 53.1%

+6.1 pts

Median age

51.8 → 44.7

-7.1 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $135,927 in 2021 to $142,961 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 4,272 to 4,223 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.1% change. About 21.3% of households rent today, against 16.6% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 47% to 53.1%.

Community

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View Montauk rent history (2015–2026) →

By apartment size

Montauk rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Montauk

About renting in Montauk, NY

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Montauk is $27,500/mo as of October 2026.

At 231% of local median household income ($142,961/yr), Montauk ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Montauk?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $1,100,000/year (about $529/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $27,500/mo in Montauk. The local median household income is $142,961/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.