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The cost of rent in the Syracuse metro area has seen a significant increase, with the typical rent surpassing $1,586 in January—a rise of 5.47% from the previous year. According to Zillow's Observed Rent Index, this growth rate ranks Syracuse 35th among the nation's 300 largest metro areas and second in New York, just behind Binghamton.
The Syracuse metro area, encompassing Onondaga, Oswego, and Madison counties, has experienced a steady climb in rent prices since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts attribute this trend to a shortage of housing, including both single-family homes and multifamily units, which continues to drive up rents and home prices. Syracuse.com reports that since January 2020, the typical rent in Syracuse has increased by more than 55%.
The trend is not isolated to Syracuse. Other metro areas in Upstate New York, such as Albany, Rochester, and Utica, also rank in the top 100 for rent growth rates. New York Upstate highlights Binghamton's rent increase of 5.98%, the fastest in New York, placing it 25th nationwide.
Despite these increases, Zillow forecasts a potential cooling in rent growth, particularly for single-family homes, predicting a modest 1.8% increase in 2026. The rental market is entering a phase of stability, with more options available for renters, providing them with greater negotiating power. However, the demand for rental housing remains high, contributing to the ongoing rise in rent prices.