Johnson City, NY — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

Broome County · Binghamton · population 14,698

AffordabilityInvestorsShrinkingSmall-town feel

Rising

Momentum score · 0–100

Where Johnson City stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 5.8% in the last year. averaging 9.1% annual growth over 5 years. population shrinking 1.1% per year. rents up 8.6% in the last year.

Median home $161,475

1-year +5.8%

5-yr CAGR +9.1%

vs 5-yr peak +0.0%

Population -1.1%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly

Lifestyle scores

🚶

Walkability

25/100

Very car-dependent

Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.

🚉

Public transit

15/100

Transit limited

Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.

💻

Remote work fit

56/100

Workable for remote workers

Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 11.5

Buy

At a 11.5 price-to-rent ratio, buying generally beats renting in Johnson City on a long-enough horizon. The headline math is that one year of mortgage payments approximates 11.5 years of rent — well below the 15+ threshold where ownership starts to dominate.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →

Home YoY

78 · w22%

Home 5-yr CAGR

84 · w22%

Distance from peak

90 · w18%

Population growth

29 · w16%

Rent YoY

85 · w12%

Home 10-yr CAGR

74 · w10%

Long thesis

Johnson City has averaged 9.1% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+5.8% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Johnson City's population is shrinking 1.1% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.

About Johnson City

Johnson City is a city in Broome County, New York, with an estimated population of 14,698. It anchors the Binghamton metro area. The population has contracted 1.1% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Johnson City is $161,475 as of 2026-04, up 5.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +9.1% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Johnson City average $1,172 per month, up 8.6% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 74 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 9.1% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.

●Affordable AND rising: median home $161,475 with positive recent direction — rare combination most of the country can’t offer.

●Quiet strength: +5.8% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.

●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

●Hot rental market: rents up 8.6% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

▼ Bear case

●Net out-migration: population shrinking 1.1% per year — services, schools, and tax base will follow.

●Rental squeeze: rents up 8.6% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.

○Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Broome County right now.

NWS active alerts (NY)New York Emergency Management How to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Broome County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.