At $1,519/mo, rent takes about 31% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,519 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
Rent in Watervliet changed +7.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 82 New York cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($57,919) is $1,448 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,310); a 3-bedroom is $1,580.
Amsterdam, 27 miles away, rents for 22% less ($1,185/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Watervliet. 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
Watervliet, NY is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 17.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Watervliet, NY has changed in 5 years
Household income in the area moved from $46,205 to $57,919 across the same window, up 25.4% versus 2021. Renters now make up 65.3% of households, compared with 67.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 17.8% of adults here, versus 22.4% in 2021.
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At $1,519/mo, how Watervliet rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Watervliet rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Watervliet. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Watervliet
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Watervliet is $1,519/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $950/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,310/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,080/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,580/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($57,919/yr), Watervliet ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Watervliet?
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Watervliet?
At $1,519/mo, rent takes ~31% of Watervliet's median household income ($57,919/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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