What it's like to live in Peekskill
Peekskill is a small city in New York with unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Peekskill deals with rent well above the national average, long average commutes, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Long commutes
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 40" per year
- Above-average rainfall
How Peekskill compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Peekskill
Based on Peekskill's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,072
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $81,440 a year
- 54% of Peekskill renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$79,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,560
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 44% above US
$2,036/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,036 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices run above average, with a median around $395,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $395,600 · 54% 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)
Safety▼ 31% below US
228 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 572/100k · Peekskill Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 43% above US
37 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 37.2 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% take public transit; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 20°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Weir Farm National Historical Park (24 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Peekskill's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and long average commutes. A year of median rent ($2,036/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Peekskill
All New York guides →Moving to Stony Point →
5 mi away · pop. 12,728
Rent $1,749/mo · Income $125,667
Compare with Peekskill →Moving to West Haverstraw →
7 mi away · pop. 10,711
Rent $1,803/mo · Income $86,301
Compare with Peekskill →Moving to Jefferson Valley-Yorktown →
7 mi away · pop. 14,154
Rent $2,106/mo · Income $157,083
Compare with Peekskill →Not sure Peekskill is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.