The Utica metro is home to 289,577 people (down 1.3% over five years), with a median household income of $68,830. Typical rent of $1,424/month works out to 24.8% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Utica's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 28.3% |
| Retail trade | 11.4% |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% |
| Professional & management | 9.2% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.1% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.8% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Utica market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,424/month suggests a household income around $57,000/year. The metro's median household income is $68,830.
By workforce share: Education & health care (28.3%), Retail trade (11.4%), Manufacturing (9.5%) (Census ACS 5-year).