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Buying a home in Orleans County, New York

The typical owner-occupied home in Orleans County is worth about $140,800, 67% below the New York median of $423,800 and 58% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,823 a year in property taxes, about 2.72% of their home's value, higher than the New York rate of 1.55%. The median household earns $65,969 a year, so the median home costs 2.1 times the median income (4.9 times for New York). 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 57% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Orleans County at a glance

Orleans County New York U.S.
Median home value $140,800 $423,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,823 $6,582 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 2.72% 1.55% 0.94%
Median household income $65,969 $85,974 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 77% 54% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 57% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,469 $2,555 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.3% 22.5% 21.0%
Median rent $874 $1,621 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.7% 31.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1955 1959 1980
Vacant homes 11.5% 10.0% 10.1%
Population 39,608 19,852,366 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Orleans County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Orleans County home of $140,800 with 20% down costs about $1,136 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,370, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $48,666 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Orleans County household income of $65,969; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $191,000.

The median rent here is $874 a month, so owning the median home costs about $262 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$28,160
Loan amount$112,640
Principal and interest$758
Property taxes (2.72% a year)$319
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$59
PMI$0
Total per month$1,136

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,928
Loan amount$138,250
Principal and interest$930
Property taxes (2.72% a year)$319
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$59
FHA mortgage insurance$62
Total per month$1,370

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Questions about home buying in Orleans County

What is the median home value in Orleans County?

About $140,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Orleans County?

Homeowners pay a median $3,823 a year, which is about 2.72% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Orleans County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,136 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $48,666 a year.

More about Orleans County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data