RANK #98 / 1001 NAT · #6 / 45 NY · POP 197,378
1YR FORECAST: +3.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +36%
Broome County, New York, is known as the "Carousel Capital of America," home to six antique carousels. Located in the Southern Tier region of New York, it borders Pennsylvania to the south. The county seat, Binghamton, sits at the confluence of the Chenango and Susquehanna Rivers. Commuting to New York City is possible by bus, with trips taking around 3.5 to 5 hours, or by car in about 3.5 hours. The area offers a blend of urban and rural settings, with numerous parks, state forests, and miles of trails for outdoor recreation.
Life in Broome County offers a lower cost of living compared to the national average, with a variety of housing options in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Public schools in the county are generally above average. Binghamton University is a significant institution within the county. Recent economic developments have focused on attracting investment in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and housing. Efforts are also underway to support small businesses and enhance the local workforce.
Broome County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.3% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 5.7x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Broome Technology Park
Broome County Industrial Development Agency (IDA)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Oakdale Commons Mixed-Use Development (Phases II & III)
Redevelopment of former Oakdale Mall
|
$200M | Under Construction |
|
Oakdale Battery Storage LLC
Oakdale Battery Storage LLC (BayWa r.e.)
|
$150M | Planned |
|
Bluestone Wind Farm
Bluestone Wind, LLC (Northland Power Inc.)
|
$112M | Operating |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Boyle Project, Greater Binghamton Airport, and others)
SolarBank Corporation, Above Grid, Tesla Inc., Laertes Solar LLC, Delaware River Solar LLC, Citizens Enterprises Corporation
|
$60M | Under Construction |
|
Hooper Road Apartments
CDS Monarch
|
$29M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Broome County ranks #98 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 90/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.0% and a median household income of $62,616 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Broome County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $154,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.40 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $941/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Broome County are both close to flat — population -0.2% YoY and jobs +1.0%. Home values shifted +5.3% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.55% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Broome County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.3% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Broome County is now valued at $154,900. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.