C-

Elizabethtown, NY

Source:

Affordability Score: 50/100

Population: 1,236 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Elizabethtown, NY aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,236 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (50/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $56,771, median home value of $183,900, median rent of $769 per month, and 32.4% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,185 per month (studio $891, 1BR $903, 3BR $1,455, 4BR $1,645). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $12,844 per year, consuming 23% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are childcare. Unemployment currently reads 3.6% and poverty 14.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$56,771
Median household income
Education C
32.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.2x
Home value $183,900 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent B-
$1,185/mo
2BR fair market rent (25% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$12,844/yr
Center-based infant care (23% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$56,771
▼ 8% vs national
Per Capita Income
$43,073
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Poverty Rate
14.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$183,900
▼ 33% vs national
Median Rent
$769/mo
Owner Occupied
80.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,185/mo
▼ 1% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$891
1BR
$903
2BR
$1,185
3BR
$1,455
4BR
$1,645

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
32.4%
▲ 2 ppt vs national
High School+
60.6%
Median Age
54.4
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$12,844/yr
23% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,960/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,400/yr
School-Age (Center)
$10,088/yr

What This Means

Elizabethtown, NY receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,236. Challenges include childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Elizabethtown, NY affordable?
Elizabethtown, NY receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $56,771. Median home value is $183,900.
What is the cost of living in Elizabethtown?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $769/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,185/mo. Infant childcare $12,844/yr. Median home value $183,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →