Real Estate Investing in Ithaca, New York (14850)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Tompkins County • Population: 66,495 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 14850 (Ithaca, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Ithaca, NY (14850)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $420,389
Avg Monthly Rent $1,929
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,911
% Renters 56.6%

Market Analysis: 14850 Ithaca

ZIP 14850 in Ithaca, NY carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $420K and rents of $1,929/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $420K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 14850 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Nearby ZIPs in Ithaca have seen price recovery that 14850 has not matched. Tompkins County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 14850 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategically, 14850 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Ithaca:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,929/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Ithaca, NY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Ithaca, NY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 14850

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$116,029/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $245,829 $1,580 4.6% +4.0% $245,829
2BR $286,349 $1,890 4.8% +6.8% $143,175
3BR $377,950 $2,270 4.3% +7.4% $125,983
4BR $511,165 $2,830 4.0% +7.9% $127,791
5BR $580,143 +7.5% $116,029

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$441K$382K$324K$265K$207K$149KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,235$2,121$2,007$1,894$1,780$1,666Aug 2021Feb 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 14850 Compare?

Metric 14850 Ithaca Ithaca, NY New York
Home Value $420,389 $105,097 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 6.3% 6.3% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,929 $1,929 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 14850? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

57% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 14850 (Ithaca, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.3%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Ithaca, NY metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
51%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $420,389
Monthly Rent $1,929
Price-to-Rent 18.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -10.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -2.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
9.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 14850

Population: 66,495

💰 Median Household Income
$64,911
This area
$64,911
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
56.6%
This area
56.6%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
69.7%
This area
69.7%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.4 years
This area
28.4 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.8%
Asian 13.8%
Other/Mixed 9.6%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
Black/African American 4.8%
👶 Under 18
11.4%
This area
11.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.3%
This area
14.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 14850

A+ Avg School Grade
13 Schools
8.8:1 Avg Class Size
$28,811 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

BELLE SHERMAN SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
319 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BOYNTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
534 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

DEWITT MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
508 Students
👨‍🏫
7.6:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

NORTHEAST SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

SOUTH HILL SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
370 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BEVERLY J MARTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
278 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

CAYUGA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

FALL CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
218 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

LEHMAN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
271 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A+ Excellent

ENFIELD SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
177 Students
👨‍🏫
7.0:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A Very Good

ITHACA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,362 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$29,884 Per Student
A Very Good

NEW ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
108 Students
👨‍🏫
7.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,008 Per Student
B Good

TOMPKINS-SENECA-TIOGA BOCES

📚 01 – 12 K-12
👥
307 Students
👨‍🏫
4.0:1 Class Size
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 1,137 Off-Campus Students
C+
Ithaca College
4,828 students · 0.8 mi
A
Cornell University
26,264 students · 1.3 mi
C
Tompkins Cortland Community College
4,720 students · 11.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,137 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Ithaca, NY?

The typical rental in Ithaca, NY commands about $1,929/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $420K purchase basis.

Is Ithaca, NY good for landlords?

For rental operators, Ithaca, NY rates as tenant-protective. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Is Ithaca, NY a good place for real estate investing?

Yes - Ithaca, NY a 3.0/5 investability score. With $420K home prices against $1,929/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What is the best play in Ithaca, NY?

Ithaca, NY investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($420K prices, $1,929/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Ithaca, NY?

Occupancy in Ithaca, NY runs reliable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,929/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 14850 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 14850 ranks in Ithaca, NY

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