In Horseheads, a typical home is worth $141,400 and typical rent is $1,181 a month. Compared with all of Chemung County, typical rent is 12% higher and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, December 2023 to September 2026: from $203,457 to $228,325.
Typical rent
$1,205a month
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Horseheads is in Chemung County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Chemung County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Elmira, the typical home value is $93,000: 34% less than in Horseheads ($141,400).
2
Nearby, in Elmira, the typical rent is $909: 23% less than in Horseheads ($1,181).
3
60% of households in Horseheads own their home, against 68% in Chemung County.
4
Horseheads has the 32nd lowest typical home value of the 348 cities in New York with more than 5,000 people ($141,400).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Horseheads
What homes there are in Horseheads, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Horseheads
Chemung County
New York
United States
Kind of home: Horseheads and its comparisons
Measure
Horseheads
Chemung County
New York
United States
Detached house
63%
68%
41%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
2%
6%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
14%
16%
17%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
20%
10%
35%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
4%
2%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Horseheads, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Chemung County, 7.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Horseheads
Chemung County
New York
United States
Year built: Horseheads and its comparisons
Measure
Horseheads
Chemung County
New York
United States
Before 1960
56%
58%
52%
26%
1960–1979
28%
24%
22%
24%
1980–1999
8%
10%
14%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
5%
6%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
3%
6%
11%
In Horseheads, half of the homes were built before 1958; in Chemung County, before 1955.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K24%
$100K–$200K61%
$200K–$300K10%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Horseheads and its comparisons
Measure
Horseheads
Under $100K
24%
$100K–$200K
61%
$200K–$300K
10%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99930%
$1,000–$1,49948%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Horseheads and its comparisons
Measure
Horseheads
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
30%
$1,000–$1,499
48%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,281 a month
Chemung County: $1,332 a month
Without a mortgage
$546 a month
Chemung County: $601 a month
Owners with a mortgage
60%
Chemung County: 55%
Owning costs about the same in Horseheads as in Chemung County: with a mortgage, $1,281 a month; without one, $546.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Horseheads+22%
Chemung County+33%
New York+35%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Horseheads+21%
Chemung County+30%
New York+27%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Horseheads+21%
Chemung County+16%
New York+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Horseheads and its comparisons
Measure
Horseheads
Chemung County
New York
United States
Typical home value
+22%
+33%
+35%
+53%
Typical rent
+21%
+30%
+27%
+33%
Typical household income
+21%
+16%
+26%
+29%
Homes in Horseheads gained value more slowly than in Chemung County: 22% since 2015–2019, against 33%.
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Horseheads rose 21%, less than in Chemung County (30%).
To compare: typical income in Horseheads rose 21%; the home, +22%; the rent, +21%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Horseheads and its comparisons
Measure
Horseheads
Chemung County
New York
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
5.4%
3.8%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.0%
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.3%
3.4%
People per household
1.96
2.23
2.49
2.53
Drive alone
80%
78%
49%
69%
Carpool
11%
9%
6%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
1%
22%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
6%
3%
Work from home
7%
8%
15%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer people live in each home here: 1.96 on average, against 2.23 in Chemung County.
In Horseheads, 80% of workers drive alone to work; in Chemung County, 78%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Horseheads?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Horseheads, worth $141,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 26% of the typical household income in Horseheads, which is $61,223 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Chemung County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Horseheads. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $4,949 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,348
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$138,839
Total interest
$199,757
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,388 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,429 a month
Your payment · 26%
Tight
$1,429 to $1,837 a month
Hard
more than $1,837 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Horseheads ($61,223 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$941
Property tax
$286
Home insurance
$59
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$63
You need at least $4,949 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,348; principal and interest $941.
The city and its county
Horseheads and Chemung County
Horseheads is in Chemung County, New York. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Horseheads
Map of Chemung County, New York, with Horseheads marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Horseheads
Chemung County
Other cities with a page
Horseheads's own numbers
Typical home value
$141,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,181
Typical yearly household income
$61,223
Households that own their home
60%
Effective property tax rate
2.43%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Chemung County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,348
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+37%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Chemung County.
A typical home in Horseheads is worth $141,400: about the same as the county and 67% below New York. With the typical household income in Horseheads ($61,223 a year), a typical home costs 2.3 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Horseheads2.3 years
Chemung2.2 years
New York4.9 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Chemung County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Chemung County rose 51% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Chemung County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Chemung County, 2016 to 2025
2016: −0.9% −0.9% 2016
2017: +2.7% +2.7% 2017
2018: +3.0% +3.0% 2018
2019: +3.2% +3.2% 2019
2020: +2.1% +2.1% 2020
2021: +6.2% +6.2% 2021
2022: +12.9% +12.9% 2022
2023: +3.3% +3.3% 2023
2024: +6.4% +6.4% 2024
2025: +3.9% +3.9% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Chemung County, New York and the United States
Period
County
New York
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+3.9%
+6.0%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+37%
+52%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+51%
+86%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Horseheads next to Chemung County, New York and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Horseheads$141,400
Chemung$141,100
New York$423,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Horseheads$1,181
Chemung$1,059
New York$1,621
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Horseheads$61,223
Chemung$63,716
New York$85,974
United States$80,734
See the full table
Horseheads next to Chemung County and New York
Measure
Horseheads
Chemung County
New York
U.S.
Typical home value
$141,400
$141,100
$423,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,181 ▲12% above the county
$1,059
$1,621
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$61,223 ▼4% below the county
$63,716
$85,974
$80,734
Households that own their home
60% ▼8 points below the county
68%
54%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,430
$3,451
$6,582
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
2.43% ▼0.02 points below the county
2.45%
1.55%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
53% ▲1 points above the county
52%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Chemung County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Horseheads
For a typical $141,400 home in Horseheads, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Horseheads's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,348a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,949
Cash to close
$9,191
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $63
Conventional, 5% down$1,322a month
Down payment
$7,070
Cash to close
$11,312
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $67
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,112a month
Down payment
$28,280
Cash to close
$32,522
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,242a month
Down payment
$21,210
Cash to close
$25,452
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Horseheads
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,348
$4,949
$138,839
7.18%
FHA MIP · $63
$9,191
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,322
$7,070
$134,330
7.18%
PMI · $67
$11,312
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,112
$28,280
$113,120
7.18%
None
$32,522
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,242
$21,210
$120,190
8.18%
None
$25,452
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Horseheads is $1,181 a month: 12% above the county. In Horseheads, 53% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Chemung County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,348 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.92 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Chemung County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,020
$19.62
$40,800
1 bedroom
$1,030
$19.81
$41,200
2 bedrooms
$1,348
$25.92
$53,920
3 bedrooms
$1,643
$31.60
$65,720
4 bedrooms
$1,793
$34.48
$71,720
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Horseheads
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Horseheads is in ZIP code 14845.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,500: $152 more than the fair market rent for Chemung County ($1,348).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Horseheads, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
14845
$1,140
$1,150
$1,500
$1,830
$1,990
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
14845 $1,500$1,830
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Horseheads when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Chemung County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Horseheads or Chemung County. The ones below are statewide in New York: they work in Horseheads the same as in the rest of the state.
SONYMA second loan with no interest, forgiven after ten years, for the down payment with a SONYMA mortgage in New York.Offered by State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).
SONYMA mortgage at a very low fixed rate for low-income first-time buyers in New York, with a minimal down payment.Offered by State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Horseheads or Chemung County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Horseheads and all of Chemung County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Horseheads?
The typical home value in Horseheads is $141,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Chemung County it is $141,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Horseheads?
Typical rent in Horseheads is $1,181 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Chemung County is $1,348.
What is the FHA loan limit in Horseheads?
Horseheads uses the FHA limit for all of Chemung County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Horseheads?
The typical homeowner in Horseheads pays $3,430 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.43% of the home’s value; in Chemung County, the rate is 2.45%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Horseheads?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Chemung County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
