City Report · NY

Rockville Centre

Pop. 25,765·24th most expensive in New York·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$3,400/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.6%
Month-over-Month
+1.3%
vs US Median
+$1,468
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Rockville Centre · $3,400
More expensive than 95% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,400/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$136,000/yr
Local median income
$151,938/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Rockville Centre's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,710
1 BR
$2,070
2 BR
$2,390
3 BR
$3,100
4 BR+
$3,320
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,390/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,400 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

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of New York

Rent in Rockville Centre changed +4.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 82 New York cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($151,938) is $3,798 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,320).

Cheaper nearby

Amityville, 12 miles away, rents for 10% less ($3,047/mo), about $4,200 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$40,800/yr
At $3,400/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 4.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.6% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Rockville Centre, NY is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 63.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
25,765
Median income
$151,938
Median age
42.9
Renters
24.9%
Age distribution
23.2%
16%
24.3%
16.4%
20.1%
Under 1823.2%
18–3416%
35–5424.3%
55–6416.4%
65+20.1%
Gender
47.6%
52.4%
Male47.6%
Female52.4%
Race & ethnicity
79.2%
White79.2%
Black5%
Hispanic9.6%
Asian5.7%
Education (25+)
13.4%
18.9%
63.9%
No HS diploma3.8%
HS diploma13.4%
Some college18.9%
Bachelor's+63.9%
Housing tenure
75.1%
24.9%
Owner75.1%
Renter24.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Rockville Centre, NY has changed in 5 years

Income
$131,090 → $151,938
up 15.9%
Population
25,768 → 25,765
up 0.0%
Renter share
27.6% → 24.9%
-2.7 pts
Bachelor's+
62.3% → 63.9%
+1.6 pts
Median age
43.8 → 42.9
-0.9 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $131,090 to $151,938 across the same window, up 15.9% versus 2021. The renter share has eased from 27.6% to 24.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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View Rockville Centre rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Rockville Centre on your salary?

At $3,400/mo, how Rockville Centre rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Rockville Centre rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Rockville Centre

About renting in Rockville Centre, NY

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Rockville Centre is $3,400/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,710/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,070/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,100/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($151,938/yr), Rockville Centre ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Rockville Centre?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $136,000/year (about $65/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,400/mo in Rockville Centre. The local median household income is $151,938/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Rockville Centre?

Rent in Rockville Centre has risen 4.6% over the past year.

How does Rockville Centre rent compare to other cities in New York?

Rockville Centre is one of the pricier among New York cities for rent, ranking #24 of 121 tracked cities at $3,400/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Rockville Centre changed +4.6%, against a typical +5.3% across the 82 New York cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Rockville Centre?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Rockville Centre ($3,400/mo) include Franklin Square ($2,950/mo), and Hempstead ($3,106/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $3,400/mo, rent takes ~27% of Rockville Centre's median household income ($151,938/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Rockville Centre 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4–10.9%
Run the Rockville Centre affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Rockville Centre
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Rockville Centre, NY

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