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Buying a home in Seneca County, New York

The typical owner-occupied home in Seneca County is worth about $155,400, 63% below the New York median of $423,800 and 53% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,403 a year in property taxes, about 2.19% of their home's value, higher than the New York rate of 1.55%. The median household earns $68,089 a year, so the median home costs 2.3 times the median income (4.9 times for New York). 71% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 53% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Seneca County at a glance

Seneca County New York U.S.
Median home value $155,400 $423,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,403 $6,582 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 2.19% 1.55% 0.94%
Median household income $68,089 $85,974 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 71% 54% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 53% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,418 $2,555 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.9% 22.5% 21.0%
Median rent $957 $1,621 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.9% 31.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1959 1959 1980
Vacant homes 16.0% 10.0% 10.1%
Population 32,920 19,852,366 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Seneca County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Seneca County home of $155,400 with 20% down costs about $1,185 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,444, 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 $50,772 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Seneca County household income of $68,089; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $208,000.

The median rent here is $957 a month, so owning the median home costs about $228 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$31,080
Loan amount$124,320
Principal and interest$836
Property taxes (2.19% a year)$284
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$65
PMI$0
Total per month$1,185

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,439
Loan amount$152,585
Principal and interest$1,026
Property taxes (2.19% a year)$284
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$65
FHA mortgage insurance$69
Total per month$1,444

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Questions about home buying in Seneca County

What is the median home value in Seneca County?

About $155,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Seneca County?

Homeowners pay a median $3,403 a year, which is about 2.19% 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 Seneca County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,185 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $50,772 a year.

More about Seneca 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