B-

Owego, NY

Source:

Affordability Score: 66/100

Population: 11,759 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Owego, NY aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 11,759 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (66/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $72,769, median home value of $156,400, median rent of $915 per month, and 26.8% 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 $1,103 per month (studio $783, 1BR $868, 3BR $1,412, 4BR $1,622). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $12,844 per year, consuming 18% 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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Owego, NY include housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 5.8% and poverty 19.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$72,769
Median household income
Education D
26.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A
2.1x
Home value $156,400 vs income
Commute B-
22 min
Average commute time
Rent A-
$1,103/mo
2BR fair market rent (18% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$12,844/yr
Center-based infant care (18% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$72,769
▲ 17% vs national
Per Capita Income
$42,066
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Poverty Rate
19.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$156,400
▼ 43% vs national
Median Rent
$915/mo
Owner Occupied
71.3%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,103/mo
▼ 8% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$783
1BR
$868
2BR
$1,103
3BR
$1,412
4BR
$1,622

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
26.8%
▼ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
59.0%
Median Age
44.4
Avg. Commute
22 min
▼ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$12,844/yr
18% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,960/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,400/yr
School-Age (Center)
$10,088/yr

What This Means

Owego, NY receives an overall affordability grade of B- (66/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 11,759. This area performs well in housing and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Owego ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Owego, NY affordable?
Owego, NY receives an overall affordability grade of B- (66/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $72,769. Median home value is $156,400.
What is the cost of living in Owego?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $915/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,103/mo. Infant childcare $12,844/yr. Median home value $156,400.
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 →