1st Advantage MortgageAbout 25% of New York County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $103,931. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in New York County
- What stands out in New York County
- What New York County households earn
- Where New York County households live
- Work, industries and travel time in New York County
- New York County next to its neighbors
- Local borrowing considerations for New York County
- New York County demographics against New York
- What a median New York County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in New York County
- Who licenses lenders for New York County residents
- Other New York guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in New York County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts New York County's population at 1,629,477; only 2 of New York's 62 county-level areas are larger. New York County spans 23 square miles; with 1,629,477 people, that is 71,916.2 per square mile. Metro area: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau lists no separate place within New York County; its residents live in unincorporated areas covered by this county guide.
What stands out in New York County
Out of every New York county, New York County is most unusual on these measures.
- On median home value, New York County sits near the top of New York at $1,090,500, the highest of 62. High values mean many owners could borrow against equity; weigh that risk carefully.
- On the share of mobile homes, New York County sits near the bottom of New York at 0.1%, the lowest of 62. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- New York County ranks the highest of 62 New York counties for the share of workers who work from home: 25.5%, against 14.9% statewide. Remote workers should have W-2s or contracts ready to show income.
- Few New York counties match New York County on households without a vehicle: 78.0% here, 29.2% for the state, ranking the highest of 62. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
What New York County households earn
Median household income in New York County: $103,931 (21% above New York, $85,974). Only 5 New York counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | New York County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.4% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 25.1% | -8.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 29.0% | +11.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 52% of New York County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. 16.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.0%). None of these numbers decides a New York County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Where New York County households live
$2,197 a month is the median gross rent in New York County, 36% above the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. With a median value of $1,090,500, a typical New York County house costs 10.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 25% of New York County households own their home and 75% rent.
| Home costs | New York County | New York | Compared with New York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 25% | 54% | -29.3 pts |
| Median home value | $1,090,500 | $423,800 | 157% higher |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | -4.1 pts |
| Median gross rent | $2,197/mo | $1,621/mo | 36% higher |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 33% | -2.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% | 2.1% | -2.1 pts |
With renters making up 75% of households, many New York County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more.
Work, industries and travel time in New York County
Education and health care (25%), professional and administrative services (22%) and finance, insurance and real estate (16%) lead New York County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 22% locally and 13% for New York. Unemployment in New York County, ACS five-year: 7.6%; New York: 6.4%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 21%; under 15 minutes: 13%.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | New York County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | -4.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 22.0% | +8.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 15.8% | +7.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.0% | -2.6 pts |
| Information | 5.6% | +2.8 pts |
Self-employed in New York County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
New York County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 6 to 14 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. New York County's $103,931 median trails 1 of the six and beats 5; the range runs $48,676 (Bronx County) to $124,884 (Bergen County). Some neighbors are in New Jersey. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a New York County resident follows New York rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York County | - | $103,931 | $2,197/mo | 25% |
| Hudson County, NJ | 6 mi | $91,795 | $1,894/mo | 31% |
| Bronx County, NY | 8 mi | $48,676 | $1,458/mo | 20% |
| Kings County, NY | 10 mi | $80,263 | $1,833/mo | 29% |
| Queens County, NY | 11 mi | $86,136 | $1,956/mo | 45% |
| Bergen County, NJ | 14 mi | $124,884 | $1,914/mo | 65% |
| Essex County, NJ | 14 mi | $80,789 | $1,531/mo | 45% |
Local borrowing considerations for New York County
Based on the New York County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of New York County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Strong-credit shopping. Many New York County households (52%) earn six figures; prequalify with several lenders at once.
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of New York County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
New York County demographics against New York
Bachelor's degree or higher: 64% of New York County adults. The uninsured rate is 4.2%, against 5.1% for New York.
| New York County | vs New York | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | -0.9 yrs | -2.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 64.2% | +24.0 pts | +42.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | -1.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | -0.8 pts | -3.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 78.0% | +48.8 pts | +72.6 pts |
| Work from home | 25.5% | +10.6 pts | +16.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | +2.5 pts | +3.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.6% | +1.2 pts | +3.2 pts |
| Minutes to work | New York County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 12.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 33.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.2% |
| 60+ min | 10.0% |
What a median New York County budget can carry
DTI math using New York County medians ($103,931 income, $2,197 rent):
- Start: $8,661 gross per month ($103,931 / 12)
- Less median rent of $2,197, which is 25% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,527 a month
These are gross figures; take-home pay in New York County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Steps before you apply in New York County
Before you apply, wherever you live in New York County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in New York.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for New York County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with New York County borrowers answers to the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: New York guide.
Other New York guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does New York County rank on income in New York?
6th of 62, with a median of $103,931. The state median is $85,974.
Can a New York County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $2,197 median rent and $8,661 median monthly income, rent alone uses 25%; add other debts before a new payment.
Are New York County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for New York County residents?
The New York State Department of Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in New York; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.