The Town FilesSolvay, New York
Village in Onondaga County · population 6,645 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,000
- Household income
- $61,166
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 128 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 38.9
Solvay is a village of 6,645 people in Onondaga County, New York. The median home is worth $150,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 94% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of New York towns, hipper than 90% of New York towns.
How Solvay ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Solvay is worth $150,000, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $61,166, which is more affordable than 63% of New York towns. Median rent is $946 a month. 51.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Solvay | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,000 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $946 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $61,166 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.3% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Solvay
| People | Solvay | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Solvay
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 127.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Solvay since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 23, 2004.
Severe weather in Onondaga County since 1996
Onondaga County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| June 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1993: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Onondaga County
Onondaga County had 245,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,444 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Solvay itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Solvay
2 public schools with 893 students, about 9.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOLVAY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 451 | 9.6 |
| SOLVAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 442 | 9.8 |
Towns near Solvay
- Westvale, NY1.2 mi · 5,090 people · home $214,200
- Geddes, NY1.5 mi · 17,088 people · home $182,400
- Fairmount, NY2.1 mi · 10,248 people · home $184,000
- Galeville, NY2.4 mi · 4,482 people · home $140,100
- Lakeland, NY2.8 mi · 2,556 people · home $167,900
- Syracuse, NY3.6 mi · 148,620 people · home $138,400
- Salina, NY3.9 mi · 33,223 people · home $160,500
- Lyncourt, NY4.7 mi · 4,376 people · home $151,800
Solvay questions
Is Solvay, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Solvay scores better for retirees than 19% of New York towns and quieter than 5%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Solvay?
The median owner-occupied home in Solvay is valued at $150,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,166, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $946 a month.
What is the weather like in Solvay?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 127.8 inches of snow.
Does Solvay get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Solvay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)