Utica, New York, faces population decline despite high housing affordability

Utica, New York, has emerged as one of the most affordable cities in the state, with median home values ranging from approximately $87,000 to $157,000 and rents starting near $900 per month. The overall cost of living in the area is estimated to be 28 to 33 percent below the New York state average.

Despite the low cost of housing, the city has experienced population decline. Recent data indicates a population shrinkage of roughly 4 percent since the 2020 Census, with an annual loss rate of about 0.74 percent. Local officials and residents have pushed back against media portrayals that characterize the city as a place people avoid, citing specific economic and demographic nuances.

While the city faces challenges such as lower median incomes and poverty, recent labor statistics show a 4.0 percent unemployment rate in the Utica-Rome Metropolitan Statistical Area as of June 2026, with private sector employment seeing growth in the health, education, and hospitality sectors.