The New York rental market
New York tracks median rent across 121 cities, ranging from Gloversville at $1,000/mo to Westhampton Beach at $12,000/mo. The state average of $2,629/mo runs about 36% above the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across New York cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +5.6% over the past year. 100 of 153 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 53 fall below it. The largest rental markets are New York, Buffalo, Yonkers.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 6 of 127 New York cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
27 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Scarsdale ($7,500/mo) costs 7.3 times as much as Lockport ($1,025/mo).
Across 22 New York cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in December and peak in July, a typical swing of 1.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 9 of 15 New York cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for New York cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
New York rent questions
What is the average rent in New York?
The average median rent across 121 tracked cities in New York is $2,629/mo, about 36% above the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which New York city has the highest rent?
Westhampton Beach has the highest median rent in New York at $12,000/mo.
Which New York city has the most affordable rent?
Gloversville is the most affordable tracked city in New York, with a median rent of $1,000/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in New York?
Across New York cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +5.6% over the past year.
How does New York rent compare to the rest of the country?
100 of 153 tracked New York cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 53 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in New York?
By population, the largest rental markets in New York are New York, Buffalo, Yonkers. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.