Living in Syracuse, NY
Syracuse is the 196th-largest city in the US, home to about 145,000 people in 2025. It has lost 2.5% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run below the national average (95.7 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 144,896-2.5% since 2020
- Median home value
- $138,4002.9 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,039/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $47,819median, per year
- Price level
- 95.7US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 32° / 82°lows 17° / 62°
- Average commute
- 18 min12% work from home
- State income tax
- 10.9%top rate, graduated
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County: Onondaga County
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Elevation: about 397 ft
Metro area: Syracuse, NY
Cost of living in Syracuse
The median home in Syracuse is worth $138,400 and the median household earns $47,819 a year, so a typical home costs about 2.9 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,039 a month, about 26% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Syracuse, NY metro area at 95.7, with housing at 80.7 and goods at 99.7 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $71,800 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 Syracuse?
Syracuse weather
Average highs run from 32°F in January to 82°F in July, and January nights average 16°F. It gets 40 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 128 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 132 times a year. The most comfortable months are May to September.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Syracuse
People and work
The median resident is 31.8 years old, and 31% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 42% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 18 minutes; 12% of workers work from home and 6% take public transit.
- Median age
- 31.852nd youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 31%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 42%of households
- People per sq mile
- 5,78225.1 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 6%9% walk, 0.9% bike
- Unemployment
- 7.7%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 28.8%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1948median year
Who moves to Syracuse, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Buffalo (Erie County), Kings County, NY and New York (Queens County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Buffalo (Erie County), Charlotte (Mecklenburg 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 Moderate
FEMA rating for Onondaga County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: winter weather, strong wind, ice storm, inland flooding.
Home prices
+6.1% in a year
Up 64% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Syracuse, NY area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
84% good days
4 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Syracuse, NY area (365 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.
Parks and sights near Syracuse
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Colgate University 35 miles
- Syracuse University in Syracuse
- Onondaga Community College 4 miles
- Le Moyne College 3 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Syracuse
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse Hancock International Airport SYR | 5 mi | 1,486,554 |
| Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport ITH | 41 mi | 69,613 |
| Elmira Corning Regional Airport ELM | 72 mi | 85,696 |
| Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport ROC | 77 mi | 1,331,837 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Syracuse
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse University | in town | 15,477 | $43,336 | 81% |
| Onondaga Community College | 4 mi | 4,456 | $5,201 | 29% |
| Le Moyne College | 3 mi | 2,439 | $23,835 | 67% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | in town | 1,839 | $18,375 | 72% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Syracuse
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 29, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 5 and the first frost comes around October 19.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Syracuse Hancock Intl. Airport, NY, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Syracuse.
Wildfire smoke in Syracuse
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Syracuse on about 106 days a year, including about 29 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Syracuse
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 59,816 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Syracuse
Downtown Syracuse is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse City School District | Pre-K to 12 | 18,662 | 31 | 10.9 |
Other districts within 10 miles: North Syracuse Central School District (7,933 students), Liverpool Central School District (6,728 students), Baldwinsville Central School District (5,465 students), West Genesee Central School District (4,614 students), Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District (4,138 students), East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District (3,512 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Syracuse's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Syracuse's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- South Bend, IN77% matchCompare
- Lansing, MI74% matchCompare
- Wyoming, MI69% matchCompare
- Racine, WI68% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Syracuse
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Syracuse
- Greek Peak 37 miles
- Bristol Mountain Ski Resort 67 miles
- McCauley Mountain 75 miles
- Plattekill Mountain 92 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Syracuse
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 Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 2.9 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Commutes are short: 18 minutes each way on average.
Cons
- Data New York's top income tax rate is 10.9%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Winters are snowy: about 128 inches a year.
- Data Poverty is high: 28.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
- Data Home prices have climbed fast: up 64% in five years (FHFA).
Syracuse report card from locals
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Cities near Syracuse
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | 45 mi | 33,632 | $342,700 | 103.3 | Compare |
| Rochester, NY | 75 mi | 206,108 | $139,600 | 97.0 | Compare |
| Scranton, PA | 116 mi | 75,514 | $158,100 | 93.6 | Compare |
| Albany, NY | 124 mi | 101,698 | $234,700 | 99.6 | Compare |
| Buffalo, NY | 138 mi | 274,613 | $164,200 | 95.8 | Compare |
| Bethlehem, PA | 169 mi | 79,644 | $260,400 | 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 Syracuse with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Syracuse a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, short commutes; the trade-offs are heavy snow, a shrinking population. Compare Syracuse side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Syracuse?
The Census Bureau estimates Syracuse had 144,896 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 148,602 in April 2020 (-2.5%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Syracuse?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $71,800 in the Syracuse area. The median household here earns $47,819.
When is the best time to visit Syracuse?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May to September are the most comfortable months. July averages 82°F and January 32°F for daytime highs.
What county is Syracuse in?
Syracuse is in Onondaga County, New York. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Syracuse in?
Syracuse is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Syracuse?
About 397 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 Syracuse. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Syracuse, NY metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Syracuse Hancock Intl. Airport, NY station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.