Best Places to Buy Rental Property in New York (2026)
We ranked all 49 New York counties that have both a median home price and a median rent, ordered by the cap rate a median-priced rental would produce. Saint Lawrence County leads at 6.1%, with a median price of $150,639.
New York counties ranked by cap rate
| # | Market | Cap rate | Median price | Median rent | Cash flow | Analyze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Lawrence County, NY | 6.1% | $150,639 | $1,173 | -$27 | Run numbers |
| 2 | Steuben County, NY | 5.7% | $174,260 | $1,277 | -$83 | Run numbers |
| 3 | Chemung County, NY | 5.5% | $164,318 | $1,155 | -$111 | Run numbers |
| 4 | Otsego County, NY | 5.5% | $220,642 | $1,549 | -$150 | Run numbers |
| 5 | Oswego County, NY | 5.2% | $211,189 | $1,399 | -$198 | Run numbers |
| 6 | Cortland County, NY | 5.1% | $208,576 | $1,365 | -$206 | Run numbers |
| 7 | Broome County, NY | 5.1% | $203,930 | $1,330 | -$204 | Run numbers |
| 8 | Genesee County, NY | 4.9% | $230,191 | $1,459 | -$258 | Run numbers |
| 9 | Cattaraugus County, NY | 4.9% | $169,282 | $1,068 | -$193 | Run numbers |
| 10 | Tioga County, NY | 4.9% | $208,244 | $1,304 | -$244 | Run numbers |
| 11 | Jefferson County, NY | 4.8% | $236,464 | $1,467 | -$286 | Run numbers |
| 12 | Livingston County, NY | 4.8% | $250,673 | $1,550 | -$306 | Run numbers |
| 13 | Cayuga County, NY | 4.8% | $239,128 | $1,458 | -$306 | Run numbers |
| 14 | Chenango County, NY | 4.7% | $168,313 | $1,013 | -$224 | Run numbers |
| 15 | Oneida County, NY | 4.6% | $241,646 | $1,431 | -$336 | Run numbers |
| 16 | Onondaga County, NY | 4.5% | $288,758 | $1,662 | -$433 | Run numbers |
| 17 | Bronx County, NY | 4.4% | $500,312 | $2,847 | -$772 | Run numbers |
| 18 | Montgomery County, NY | 4.4% | $217,501 | $1,228 | -$342 | Run numbers |
| 19 | Ontario County, NY | 4.3% | $331,312 | $1,839 | -$541 | Run numbers |
| 20 | Chautauqua County, NY | 4.2% | $182,266 | $972 | -$324 | Run numbers |
| 21 | Monroe County, NY | 4.1% | $297,573 | $1,578 | -$534 | Run numbers |
| 22 | Tompkins County, NY | 4.1% | $357,317 | $1,893 | -$643 | Run numbers |
| 23 | Sullivan County, NY | 4.0% | $328,990 | $1,703 | -$617 | Run numbers |
| 24 | Erie County, NY | 3.8% | $304,052 | $1,498 | -$620 | Run numbers |
| 25 | Rensselaer County, NY | 3.8% | $331,923 | $1,634 | -$678 | Run numbers |
| 26 | Orange County, NY | 3.8% | $469,575 | $2,256 | -$995 | Run numbers |
| 27 | Fulton County, NY | 3.7% | $229,478 | $1,088 | -$496 | Run numbers |
| 28 | Wayne County, NY | 3.7% | $257,233 | $1,207 | -$564 | Run numbers |
| 29 | Putnam County, NY | 3.6% | $578,870 | $2,701 | -$1,279 | Run numbers |
| 30 | Schenectady County, NY | 3.6% | $315,354 | $1,467 | -$700 | Run numbers |
| 31 | Suffolk County, NY | 3.6% | $726,692 | $3,349 | -$1,633 | Run numbers |
| 32 | Ulster County, NY | 3.6% | $450,806 | $2,069 | -$1,018 | Run numbers |
| 33 | Greene County, NY | 3.5% | $373,047 | $1,699 | -$851 | Run numbers |
| 34 | Niagara County, NY | 3.5% | $259,222 | $1,159 | -$606 | Run numbers |
| 35 | Columbia County, NY | 3.4% | $489,080 | $2,158 | -$1,161 | Run numbers |
| 36 | Queens County, NY | 3.4% | $743,682 | $3,256 | -$1,782 | Run numbers |
| 37 | Albany County, NY | 3.4% | $377,493 | $1,649 | -$907 | Run numbers |
| 38 | Delaware County, NY | 3.4% | $256,564 | $1,106 | -$626 | Run numbers |
| 39 | Madison County, NY | 3.3% | $267,485 | $1,127 | -$670 | Run numbers |
| 40 | Dutchess County, NY | 3.2% | $504,723 | $2,100 | -$1,281 | Run numbers |
| 41 | Nassau County, NY | 3.2% | $859,544 | $3,564 | -$2,189 | Run numbers |
| 42 | Kings County, NY | 3.1% | $957,100 | $3,808 | -$2,542 | Run numbers |
| 43 | New York County, NY | 3.1% | $1,217,330 | $4,833 | -$3,240 | Run numbers |
| 44 | Essex County, NY | 3.1% | $304,118 | $1,200 | -$814 | Run numbers |
| 45 | Saratoga County, NY | 3.0% | $474,850 | $1,840 | -$1,293 | Run numbers |
| 46 | Warren County, NY | 3.0% | $384,848 | $1,485 | -$1,052 | Run numbers |
| 47 | Rockland County, NY | 3.0% | $765,908 | $2,946 | -$2,100 | Run numbers |
| 48 | Richmond County, NY | 2.9% | $730,781 | $2,702 | -$2,075 | Run numbers |
| 49 | Westchester County, NY | 2.8% | $879,219 | $3,184 | -$2,540 | Run numbers |
Looking for every county in the state, including those without rent data? Browse the full New York market directory.
How this ranking is calculated
We scored 49 counties in New York and ranked them by capitalization rate, calculated as annual net operating income divided by median home price. Counties without both a median home price and a median rent are excluded, because cash flow cannot be estimated without both.
Every figure assumes a median-priced home rented at the local median rent, financed with 20 percent down on a 30-year loan at 6.85%, with closing costs at 3 percent of price and operating costs at 35 percent of rent. Operating costs cover taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and management.
These are modeled estimates for comparing markets, not quotes on a specific property. A real deal turns on the individual property, its condition, and the actual rent it can command. Run any market that interests you through the calculator with real numbers before you make an offer.
National rankings
Compare New York against the rest of the country.
Best Cash Flow Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated monthly cash flow on a median-priced rental, after mortgage and operating costs.
Highest Cap Rate Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated cap rate on a median-priced rental, using local median rent and a 35 percent operating cost assumption.
Best Cash-on-Cash Return Markets for Rental Property
US counties ranked by estimated first-year cash-on-cash return on a median-priced rental with 20 percent down.
Best Rental Markets Under $200,000
US counties with a median home price under $200,000, ranked by estimated cap rate on a median-priced rental.
Cheapest Markets With Positive Cash Flow
The lowest-priced US counties where a median-priced rental still covers its mortgage and operating costs.
Best Appreciation Markets for Real Estate Investors
US counties ranked by appreciation score, blending recent home price growth with the risk of an overheated market.
Best Overall Real Estate Markets to Invest In
US counties ranked by overall investment score, blending cash flow, appreciation, stability, and affordability.
Other states
States with fewer than 5 counties reporting both price and rent are omitted, because a ranking that short would not be meaningful.
Run the numbers on a New York property
Start from Saint Lawrence County median values and replace them with a real listing price and rent to see whether the deal actually works.