Affordable Housing Attracts Growing Bangladeshi Community to Binghamton

The Bangladeshi community in Binghamton is expanding rapidly as families move to the upstate city in search of affordable housing and lower living costs compared to New York City. Over time, the city has become an attractive settlement option for Bangladeshi immigrants. Many families have started living in Binghamton permanently, encouraged by affordable housing, a safe environment, and access to schools and healthcare.

House prices in Binghamton range between $90,000 and $190,000, with many properties available for around $150,000. Rents are also lower, with one-bedroom apartments costing between $700 and $900 per month, and two-bedroom units between $1,000 and $1,500. Local residents say food and other daily expenses are also cheaper than in the city.

Authorities have launched several housing initiatives, including a $94m investment to renovate 256 apartments in North Binghamton’s Town & Country complex, which will include federal Section 8 rent support. The city has also introduced new zoning rules to make affordable housing more widely available, alongside tenant protections under New York’s Good Cause Eviction law.

Community leaders say Bangladeshi-owned businesses have grown from just a few to more than a dozen, including restaurants, grocery shops and salons. The city is also home to mosques, schools and even a madrasa serving the immigrant community.

Mohammad Saiful, a Bangladeshi resident, told local media, “New families are arriving here all the time. The future of this city looks promising. You can get a single-family home for about $150,000, and larger homes for around $300,000. That’s why many are moving from New York, New Jersey and even Michigan.”

Binghamton, with a population of about 47,000 – and nearly 200,000 in Broome County – is known as a regional centre for education and industry. Officials and community organisations believe its combination of affordable housing, safe environment and access to schools and healthcare will continue to attract Bangladeshi families in the years ahead.