Ithaca, NY housing market
Home prices around Ithaca have risen about 56% over the past 5 years. Builders were permitted 7 new homes in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Ithaca compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 56% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP code around Ithaca rose 56% over the past 5 years, faster than across New York (52%). Last year prices rose 5.9%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical Ithaca home at roughly $604,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | New York since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +5.9% | +230% | +189% |
| 2024 | −2.5% | +212% | +173% |
| 2023 | +20% | +220% | +154% |
| 2022 | +15% | +167% | +135% |
| 2021 | +9.7% | +133% | +108% |
| 2020 | +2.2% | +112% | +90% |
| 2019 | +3.1% | +108% | +84% |
| 2018 | +0.8% | +101% | +78% |
| 2017 | +0.5% | +100% | +68% |
| 2016 | +6% | +99% | +61% |
| 2015 | −0.4% | +88% | +56% |
| 2014 | +8.1% | +89% | +52% |
| 2013 | +3.2% | +74% | +48% |
| 2012 | +1.1% | +69% | +47% |
| 2011 | +0.7% | +67% | +51% |
| 2010 | −1.5% | +66% | +54% |
| 2009 | −0.5% | +69% | +59% |
| 2008 | +3.4% | +69% | +69% |
| 2007 | +3% | +64% | +73% |
| 2006 | +3.5% | +59% | +73% |
| 2005 | +15% | +54% | +62% |
| 2004 | +12% | +33% | +43% |
| 2003 | +6.2% | +19% | +28% |
| 2002 | +4.8% | +12% | +18% |
| 2001 | +7% | +7% | +8.3% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
How Ithaca ranks on rising home prices →
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP code 14850, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
7 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 7 new homes in Ithaca in 2025: 1 single-family house and 6 in buildings with two or more homes, worth about $1.3 million to build. That's 0.3 per 1,000 residents, slower than across New York (1.8). Over the past 10 years, Ithaca has permitted 359 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Ithaca gained 2,353 residents while 469 new homes were permitted: about 5 new residents per new home. Population grew faster than building, so existing homes filled up: a sign of tight supply. Across New York: 2.2 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 4 | 0 | 4 | $640,000 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 6 | $1.3 million |
| 2024 | 3 | 1 | 2 | $614,000 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1 | 2 | $614,000 |
| 2022 | 5 | 3 | 2 | $1.2 million |
| 2021 | 20 | 4 | 16 | $3.3 million |
| 2020 | 6 | 2 | 4 | $1.1 million |
| 2019 | 99 | 6 | 93 | $12.7 million |
| 2018 | 70 | 7 | 63 | $9.3 million |
| 2017 | 62 | 8 | 54 | $8.5 million |
| 2016 | 84 | 6 | 78 | $10.9 million |
| 2015 | 27 | 21 | 6 | $5.7 million |
| 2014 | 14 | 10 | 4 | $4.8 million |
| 2013 | 45 | 25 | 20 | $7.4 million |
| 2012 | 45 | 21 | 24 | $6.9 million |
| 2011 | 10 | 8 | 2 | $2 million |
| 2010 | 13 | 11 | 2 | $2.8 million |
| 2009 | 12 | 10 | 2 | $2.4 million |
| 2008 | 19 | 15 | 4 | $4.2 million |
| 2007 | 102 | 16 | 86 | $11.2 million |
| 2006 | 88 | 16 | 72 | $10 million |
| 2005 | 119 | 37 | 82 | $13.2 million |
| 2004 | 34 | 32 | 2 | $6.9 million |
| 2003 | 61 | 27 | 34 | $7.5 million |
| 2002 | 194 | 19 | 175 | $18.1 million |
| 2001 | 44 | 13 | 31 | $4.8 million |
| 2000 | 47 | 19 | 28 | $4.5 million |
Ithaca's permit office didn't report to the Census in 2025, so the 2025 figures are Census estimates.
How Ithaca ranks on new homes being built →
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Ithaca and its neighbors
| Town | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca | +5.9%† | $1,890 | 7 | $105,978 |
| Dryden | +9.6%† | $1,630 | 81 | $81,127 |
| Lansing | — | $1,710 | 37 | $86,342 |
| Lansing | +5.9%† | $1,890 | 2 | $72,364 |
| Enfield | +6%† | $1,750 | 12 | $94,750 |
| Cayuga Heights | +5.9%† | $1,890 | 0 | $166,526 |
| Danby | — | $1,710 | 14 | $99,886 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
3.5 years of income
The typical Ithaca home costs about 3.5 years of the town's median household income, less than across New York (6.1 years).
How Ithaca ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,890
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Ithaca is $1,890 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Ithaca pay a median of $1,558, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 21% of the town's median household income.
Studio $1,360 · 4 bedrooms $2,820
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (14850; Ithaca, NY MSA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Recent listings in Ithaca
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.