What it's like to live in Kiryas Joel
Kiryas Joel is a small city in New York with unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Kiryas Joel deals with home prices well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Fast-growing population
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- High home prices
- Below-average household incomes
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Kiryas Joel compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Kiryas Joel
Based on Kiryas Joel's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,208
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $64,160 a year
- 73% of Kiryas Joel renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$151,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $75,880
- Homes cost 15.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 14% above US
$1,604/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,604 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $758,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $758,800 · 73% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 26% below US
3.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% take public transit; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 84% below US
6% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (29 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Kiryas Joel's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,604/mo) equals 38% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, people who would rather not drive, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Kiryas Joel
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