How much does it cost to rent in Tonawanda, NY?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Tonawanda, NY is $1,281. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Tonawanda cheaper than other New York cities?

Tonawanda is among the more affordable cities in New York, ranking #115 out of 126 cities at $1,281/mo.

When was Tonawanda rent data last updated?

Tonawanda rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NY

Tonawanda

Name: Average Rent Prices in Tonawanda, NY
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 56,806·115th most expensive in New York·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,281/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.4%

Month-over-Month

-3.0%

vs US Median

-$684

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Tonawanda rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Tonawanda · $1,281

More affordable than 89% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

52/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Tonawanda's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,281/mo

Expected by trend

$1,293/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Tonawanda's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,000

1 BR

$1,030

2 BR

$1,210

3 BR

$1,480

4 BR+

$1,670

Research median

$1,210/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$15,372/yr

At $1,281/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.4% YoY, -3.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Tonawanda, NY is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 39.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

56,806

Median income

$58,326

Median age

42.3

Renters

26.9%

Age distribution

17.4%

22.1%

24.2%

15.1%

21.2%

Under 1817.4%

18–3422.1%

35–5424.2%

55–6415.1%

65+21.2%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

84.9%

White84.9%

Black4.5%

Hispanic5.4%

Asian3.2%

Other2%

Education (25+)

22.5%

33.7%

39.4%

No HS diploma4.4%

HS diploma22.5%

Some college33.7%

Bachelor's+39.4%

Housing tenure

73.1%

26.9%

Owner73.1%

Renter26.9%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Tonawanda, NY has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,178 → $1,281

up 8.7%

Income

$56,112 → $58,326

up 3.9%

Population

15,132 → 56,806

up 275.4%

Renter share

27.2% → 26.9%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

23% → 39.4%

+16.4 pts

Median age

43.6 → 42.3

-1.3 yrs

Compared with 2022, rent in Tonawanda, NY has climbed by $103 per month, settling near $1,281 after starting the period at $1,178. Median household income grew from $56,112 to $58,326 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.9% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 4.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 15,132 to 56,806 between 2021 and 2024, a 275.4% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 23% to 39.4%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Tonawanda, NY reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Tonawanda

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View Tonawanda rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Tonawanda on your salary?

At $1,281/mo, how Tonawanda rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $107,707/yr · Rent = 14.3% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $76,471/yr · Rent = 20.1% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $88,088/yr · Rent = 17.5% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $157,445/yr · Rent = 9.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $201,176/yr · Rent = 7.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $71,603/yr · Rent = 21.5% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $64,649/yr · Rent = 23.8% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $79,686/yr · Rent = 19.3% income

very comfortable

By apartment size

Tonawanda rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Tonawanda

About renting in Tonawanda, NY

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Tonawanda is $1,281/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,210/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,030/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,480/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($58,326/yr), Tonawanda ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Tonawanda an affordable city for renters?

Tonawanda is considered affordable for renters. At $1,281/mo, rent takes approximately 26% of the local median household income ($58,326/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Tonawanda falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Tonawanda?

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 $1,281/mo in Tonawanda. The local median household income is $58,326/yr, meaning the typical Tonawanda household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Tonawanda?

Rent in Tonawanda has increased 4.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Tonawanda rent compare to other cities in New York?

Tonawanda is one of the more affordable cities in New York for rent, ranking #115 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,281/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Tonawanda?

North Tonawanda is nearby and more affordable at $1,173/mo, which is $108 less than Tonawanda.

What percentage of Tonawanda residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 26.9% of Tonawanda households are renters, while 73.1% are owner-occupied. Tonawanda leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Tonawanda rent compare to the national average?

Tonawanda's median rent of $1,281/mo is $684 (35%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within New York, it ranks #115 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

26%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,281/mo, rent takes ~26% of Tonawanda's median household income ($58,326/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Tonawanda 26%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4–10.9%

Run the Tonawanda affordability calculator →

Nearby cities