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County in New York

Kings County, New York

Kings County is the most populous county in New York, with 2,631,580 residents. Kings County has an FHA limit of $1,249,125 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $905,000. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,971 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $57.13 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $905,000

    +114% vs. New York +172% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Kings
    • New York
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $2,971 a month

    +24% vs. New York +70% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Kings
    • New York
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $1,249,125

    FHA high-cost area

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Kings
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.71% of value per year

    −54% vs. New York −24% vs. U.S.

    $6,382 a year for the typical owner

    • Kings
    • New York
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$962,988
5.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$3,858 a month
5.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Kings County today?

The monthly payment on a typical home with FHA would be about $7,478, that is, 112% of the typical household income in Kings County. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $320,490 a year; the typical income here is $80,263. Homes here are worth 114% more than the average across New York. Here 30% of households live in a home they own; across New York it is 54%. This is a high-cost area for FHA: the limit is above the national floor.

Renting is a stretch: 51% of renters put 30% or more of their income toward housing.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); HUD (2026 data).

Only here

What sets Kings County apart

  1. Of the 62 counties in New York, Kings County has the lowest effective property tax rate: 0.71%.

  2. Kings County has the 2nd highest typical home value of the 62 counties in New York ($905,000).

  3. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Kings County rose 20% on FHFA's index, slower than in New York (52%).

  4. Among the neighboring counties, Bronx County has the lowest typical home value ($529,500), 41% below the $905,000 in Kings County.

  5. At 30%, Kings County ranks 3rd among the 62 counties in New York for the lowest homeownership rate.

  6. Nearby, in Bronx County, the typical rent is $1,458: 20% less than in Kings County ($1,833).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Kings County

What homes there are in Kings County, 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

In Kings County, the apartment is the most common kind of home: 55%, against 35% in New York.

Year built

The typical home in Kings County was built in 1944, 15 years before the typical one in New York.

Homes in Kings County are smaller: 30% have 3 bedrooms or more; in New York, 49%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for this county is high ($1,249,125): at least 58% of owner-occupied homes in Kings County are worth less than $1,000,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Kings County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($2,971): about 83%.

With a mortgage

$3,542 a month

New York: $2,555 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,135 a month

New York: $958 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

New York: 58%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Kings County is $3,542 a month, more than in New York ($2,555); without one, $1,135.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Kings County gained value more slowly than in New York: 28% since 2015–2019, against 35%.

Much as in New York, the typical rent in Kings County rose 29% since 2015–2019.

Here income gained ground: typical income rose 33%, against +28% for home values and +29% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureKings CountyNew YorkUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.1%3.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.5%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room 11.0%5.3%3.4%
People per household 2.562.492.53
Drive alone 18%49%69%
Carpool 4%6%9%
Public transit 47%22%3%
Walk or bike 11%6%3%
Work from home 19%15%15%
Other means 2%2%2%
Typical commute 40 to 59 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in New York, the rental vacancy rate in Kings County is 3.1%.

More than one person per room: that is how 11.0% of households in Kings County live, more than in New York (5.3%).

A household in Kings County has 2.56 people on average, about the same as in New York (2.49).

In Kings County, 47% of workers get to work by public transit; in New York, 22%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Kings County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $905,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 112% of the typical household income here, which is $80,263 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $320,490 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Kings County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $31,675 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$7,478

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$888,608
Total interest
$1,278,499
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $15,283 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,873 a month

  • Tight

    $1,873 to $2,408 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,408 a month

    Your payment · 112%

Compared with the typical household income in Kings County ($80,263 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$7,478
Principal & interest$6,020
Property tax$536
Home insurance$377
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$546

You need at least $31,675 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Kings County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Kings County compares with New York and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Kings County rose 57% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here New York United States
In 2025 +4.6% +6.0% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +20% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +57% +86% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Kings County compared with New York and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Kings $905,000
  • New York $423,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Kings $1,833
  • New York $1,621
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Kings $80,263
  • New York $85,974
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Kings compared with New York and the United States
MeasureHereNew YorkU.S.
Residents2,631,58019,852,366334,922,499
Typical home value$905,000$423,800$332,700
Typical household income$80,263$85,974$80,734
Typical rent$1,833$1,621$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$2,971$2,402$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$57.13$46.19$33.65
Typical property tax$6,382$6,582$3,119
Effective tax rate0.71%1.55%0.94%
Households that own their home30%54%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent51%52%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$1,249,125$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: New York shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Kings County

For a typical $905,000 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $7,478 $31,675 $888,608 7.18% FHA MIP · $546 $58,825 580
Conventional, 5% down $7,167 $45,250 $859,750 7.18% PMI · $430 $72,400 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $5,817 $181,000 $724,000 7.18% None $208,150 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $6,654 $135,750 $769,250 8.18% None $162,900 Set by the lender
  • 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.

Everything about buying in Kings County: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

This is a high-cost area, so FHA limits in Kings County are above the national floor. The limit is set for the whole metro area (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ). If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($1,209,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $1,249,125 $1,209,750
2 units $1,599,375 $1,548,975
3 units $1,933,200 $1,872,225
4 units $2,402,625 $2,326,875

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Kings County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Kings County, the typical owner pays $6,382 a year: about 0.71% of the home's value. That is less than the rest of New York and less than the national average.

  • Kings 0.71%
  • New York 1.55%
  • United States 0.94%

What New York publishes Basic STAR school tax relief (New York State Department of Taxation and Finance)

Exemptions and deadlines in New York

Is there a flood risk?

FEMA’s maps count no homes in high-risk flood zones in Kings County. That does not mean there is no risk: some areas have no map. Check your address.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Kings County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Kings County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

According to FEMA, the natural hazard risk in Kings County is relatively high.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in Kings County from all natural hazards is $375 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

Of all the hazards, FEMA expects inland flooding to do the most damage to buildings: about $180 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingVery high $180 million a year
  2. EarthquakeRelatively high $32.2 million a year
  3. HurricaneRelatively high $29.2 million a year
  4. TornadoRelatively high $3.4 million a year
  5. Coastal floodingRelatively high $2.2 million a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The home energy code (IECC) puts Kings County in zone 4A: mixed and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$37.99$22.20 and $63.54
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$37.79$23.02 and $69.94
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$37.50$24.37 and $52.30
Roofers$36.73$23.19 and $50.25
Carpenters$35.72$22.53 and $59.52
Painters, construction and maintenance$29.53$21.83 and $53.63
Maintenance and repair workers, general$28.63$17.98 and $42.33

In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area, half of electricians earn more than $37.99 an hour and half earn less; for a plumber, the typical figure is $37.79.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Kings County

The typical rent in Kings County is $1,833 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

51% of renter households in Kings County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 28% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $2,593 $49.87 $103,720
1 bedroom $2,729 $52.48 $109,160
2 bedrooms $2,971 $57.13 $118,840
3 bedrooms $3,760 $72.31 $150,400
4 bedrooms $4,121 $79.25 $164,840

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Kings County

Programs and counseling in Kings County

There are 9 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Kings County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

New York down payment programs

  1. HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program

    Only in: New York City, Bronx County, Kings County, New York County, Queens County, Richmond County

    New York City interest-free forgivable loan of up to $100,000 (or 20% of the price) for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in the city's five boroughs

    First-time buyers only. Run by NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. SONYMA Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL)

    SONYMA second loan with no interest, forgiven after ten years, for the down payment with a SONYMA mortgage in New York

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  3. Achieving the Dream

    SONYMA mortgage at a very low fixed rate for low-income first-time buyers in New York, with a minimal down payment

    First-time buyers only. Run by State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all New York programs

Help in Spanish in Kings County

3 of the 9 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

HUD lists no public housing authority based in Kings County. The authority of a nearby county or the state may serve this area.

Free legal help

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.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in Kings County. The full list is on the New York counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation CHLDC

    3214 Fulton St, Brooklyn · Spanish

    Also serves in Hindi and other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (718) 647-2800

  • Housing and Family Services of Greater New York, Inc.

    415 Albemarle Rd, Brooklyn · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, Creole, French, and 1 more language.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 11 more
    (718) 435-7585

  • Mhany Management, Inc., A Mutual Housing Organization

    470 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn · Spanish

    Also serves in French and other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 4 more
    (718) 246-8080
See every agency in New York

Places

Cities in Kings County

Each city has its own page with prices, rents and help. These are the largest.

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Kings County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Kings County in 2026?

Kings County has an FHA limit of $1,249,125 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $1,599,375, for 3 it's $1,933,200 and for 4 it's $2,402,625. It's a high-cost area, so the limit is above the national floor.

What is the conforming loan limit in Kings County?

Kings County has a conforming limit of $1,209,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Kings County?

The typical home value in Kings County is $905,000 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across New York it's $423,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Kings County?

Kings County has a typical rent of $1,833 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,971 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Kings County?

About $57.13 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $118,840 a year, so the fair market rent of $2,971 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).