Nearly 60% of renters in Tompkins County now spend more than 30% of their income on housing, according to new county data.
Officials told legislators the county built 5,783 units since 2017 — just 57% of its goal. Workforce housing lagged even further, with only 666 ownership units added toward a 3,800-home target. Median rent for a one-bedroom hit $1,590 in 2024, while a median-priced $325,000 home requires more than $26,000 upfront.
Planners say shrinking household sizes drive demand for one- and two-bedroom units, while racial disparities in homeownership persist. Leaders will use the snapshot to shape a new 10-year housing strategy, with projects like SouthWorks expected to add hundreds of mixed-income units.
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