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City Housing Verdict

Middletown, NY

High Pressure

The cost of living in Middletown, NY is 11% above the national average (Cost Index: 111). Homes here are typically valued around $396,305, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $77,174 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Middletown already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 25% rent burden, 5.1x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 131. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Middletown.

Monthly Housing
$1,614/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
25%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$4,317/mo
After housing and debt · $1,439/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 33%
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Cost Index
111
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$396,305
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $271,000
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,614/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$77,174
National: $78,538
Population
30,227
Purchasing Power
89
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
131 / 100
31% above average
Rent Index
120 / 100
20% above average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
111
Expensive · 11% above average

Middletown Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $396,305 and New York's property tax rate of 1.72%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$77,174
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
25%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
5.1x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Middletown looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Middletown, NY

Est. Annual Property Tax
$6,816
Monthly Impact
$568
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.72%
National avg: ~1.00%

New York Place Tax Context

Tax TypeNew YorkNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.72%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate10.9%~5.0%
State Sales Tax8.52%~5.0%

Compare Middletown to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Middletown, NY
111
120
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Middletown, NY: 131
Rent Prices
120

FAQ: Living in Middletown

Is Middletown, NY an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Middletown is about 11% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 111. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $396,305, and monthly rents average roughly $1,614. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Middletown fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,614, while local median household income is $77,174. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 25% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Middletown, NY?+

New York has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 10.9%. The effective property tax rate is 1.72%. On a home worth $396,305, that translates to roughly $6,816 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 8.52% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Middletown, NY?+

The typical monthly rent in Middletown is around $1,614. That's about 20% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $396,305, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Middletown, NY?+

The median home in Middletown is valued at $396,305. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,004/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 52% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Middletown?+

Grocery prices in Middletown are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Middletown, NY like to live in?+

Middletown is a smaller city with a population of about 30,227. The median age of residents is 35.7, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 15.51%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in New York

If Middletown feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in New York

Use these city pages when you want to compare Middletown against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly