Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Ithaca, NY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.3% of gross income.

Ithaca rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York state estimate).

Ithaca median rent
$1,926/mo
Carpenter salary (New York)
$69,472/yr
Rent as % of income
33.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,789, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,737/mo in rent. Ithaca's median rent of $1,926 exceeds that threshold by $189/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 57.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These New York cities have lower median rent than Ithaca, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Poughkeepsie, NY
$1,925/mo (33.3% of income)
East Syracuse, NY
$1,925/mo (33.3% of income)
Newburgh, NY
$1,925/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ithaca

View full rent data for Ithaca, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Ithaca, NY?

Median rent in Ithaca is $1,926 a month. A typical carpenter in New York earns about $69,472 a year, which makes that rent 33.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Ithaca?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in New York (~$69,472/yr) supports up to $1,737 a month in rent. Ithaca's current median rent is $1,926/mo, which is $189/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Ithaca?

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a carpenter in New York works roughly 57.7 hours a month to cover Ithaca's median rent of $1,926.

Where is rent cheaper than Ithaca for a carpenter?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Poughkeepsie ($1,925/mo), East Syracuse ($1,925/mo), Newburgh ($1,925/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New York state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Ithaca, NY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.