Living in Ithaca, NY
Ithaca is home to about 34,000 people in 2025. It has grown 4.8% since 2020. Prices across the metro area run close to the national average (103.3 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 33,632+4.8% since 2020
- Median home value
- $342,7007.0 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,447/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $48,784median, per year
- Price level
- 103.3US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 31° / 80°lows 15° / 58°
- Average commute
- 19 min25% work from home
- State income tax
- 10.9%top rate, graduated
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County: Tompkins County
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Elevation: about 410 ft
Metro area: Ithaca, NY
Cost of living in Ithaca
The median home in Ithaca is worth $342,700 and the median household earns $48,784 a year, so a typical home costs about 7.0 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,447 a month, about 36% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Ithaca, NY metro area at 103.3, with housing at 128.4 and goods at 99.7 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $77,500 here. New York taxes wages at a top rate of 10.9%. The average combined state and local sales tax in New York is 8.54%.
What would my salary be worth in Ithaca?
Ithaca weather
Average highs run from 31°F in January to 80°F in July, and January nights average 15°F. It gets 38 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 63 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 148 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to September.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Ithaca
People and work
The median resident is 23.3 years old, and 68% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 30% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 19 minutes; 25% of workers work from home and 9% take public transit.
- Median age
- 23.32nd youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 68%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 30%of households
- People per sq mile
- 6,2415.4 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 9%26% walk, 2.2% bike
- Unemployment
- 7.3%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 30.4%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1956median year
Who moves to Ithaca, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Kings County, NY, New York County, NY and Cambridge (Middlesex County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to New York County, NY, Cambridge (Middlesex County) and Kings County, NY. See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
FEMA rating for Tompkins County, scored against every US county.
Home prices
-5.2% in a year
Up 42% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Ithaca, NY area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
93% good days
0 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Ithaca, NY area (355 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Pros and cons of living in Ithaca
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Commutes are short: 19 minutes each way on average.
- Data A highly educated city: 68% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.
- Data Low natural hazard risk: FEMA rates Tompkins County relatively low overall.
- Data Clean air: 331 of 355 days in 2025 had good air quality in the metro (EPA).
Cons
- Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 7.0 years of median household income.
- Data New York's top income tax rate is 10.9%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Winters are snowy: about 63 inches a year.
- Data Poverty is high: 30.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
Ithaca report card from locals
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Cities near Ithaca
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | 45 mi | 144,896 | $138,400 | 95.7 | Compare |
| Rochester, NY | 77 mi | 206,108 | $139,600 | 97.0 | Compare |
| Scranton, PA | 83 mi | 75,514 | $158,100 | 93.6 | Compare |
| Buffalo, NY | 125 mi | 274,613 | $164,200 | 95.8 | Compare |
| Bethlehem, PA | 136 mi | 79,644 | $260,400 | 100.0 | Compare |
| Allentown, PA | 138 mi | 126,044 | $206,600 | 100.0 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Ithaca with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Ithaca a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show short commutes; the trade-offs are expensive homes relative to local incomes, heavy snow. Compare Ithaca side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Ithaca?
The Census Bureau estimates Ithaca had 33,632 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 32,085 in April 2020 (+4.8%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Ithaca?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $77,500 in the Ithaca area. The median household here earns $48,784.
When is the best time to visit Ithaca?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May to September are the most comfortable months. July averages 80°F and January 31°F for daytime highs.
What county is Ithaca in?
Ithaca is in Tompkins County, New York. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Ithaca in?
Ithaca is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Ithaca?
About 410 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does New York have a state income tax?
Yes. New York has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 10.9% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Ithaca. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Ithaca, NY metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Ithaca Cornell University, NY station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.