The Town FilesSyracuse, New York
City in Onondaga County · population 148,620 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $138,400
- Household income
- $47,819
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 128 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 31.8
Syracuse is a city of 148,620 people in Onondaga County, New York. The median home is worth $138,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 98% of New York towns, more walkable than 97% of New York towns, more vibrant than 93% of New York towns.
How Syracuse 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 Syracuse is worth $138,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $47,819, which is more affordable than 49% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,039 a month. 41.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Syracuse | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,400 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,039 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $47,819 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 41.6% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Syracuse
| People | Syracuse | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Syracuse
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
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Syracuse since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 29, 2006 about 9.6 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 59 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 Syracuse itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Syracuse
46 public schools with 25,834 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,443 | 12.9 |
| NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,297 | 13.9 |
| CORCORAN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,244 | 13.1 |
| ONONDAGA-CORTLAND-MADISON BOCES | K-12 | 1,089 | 5.3 |
| PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AT FOWLER | 9-12 | 1,077 | 11.8 |
| SYRACUSE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-12 | 992 | 17.4 |
| HUNTINGTON K-8 SCHOOL | PK-8 | 871 | 12.8 |
| FRAZER K-8 SCHOOL | PK-8 | 787 | 11.1 |
| HURLBUT W SMITH K-8 SCHOOL | PK-8 | 767 | 12.4 |
| ROXBORO ROAD MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-7 | 705 | 10.4 |
| CITIZENSHIP AND SCIENCE ACADEMY OF SYRACUSE CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-8 | 704 | 16.8 |
| SOUTHSIDE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-8 | 697 | 20.5 |
Towns near Syracuse
- Lyncourt, NY3.0 mi · 4,376 people · home $151,800
- DeWitt, NY3.0 mi · 11,247 people · home $297,600
- Solvay, NY3.6 mi · 6,645 people · home $150,000
- DeWitt, NY3.7 mi · 26,074 people · home $243,500
- Westvale, NY3.7 mi · 5,090 people · home $214,200
- Galeville, NY3.9 mi · 4,482 people · home $140,100
- Mattydale, NY4.0 mi · 6,296 people · home $121,900
- East Syracuse, NY4.0 mi · 3,078 people · home $126,200
Syracuse questions
Is Syracuse, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Syracuse scores better for retirees than 2% of New York towns and quieter than 2%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.8).
How much does a house cost in Syracuse?
The median owner-occupied home in Syracuse is valued at $138,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,819, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,039 a month.
What is the weather like in Syracuse?
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 Syracuse get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Syracuse since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 29, 2006. 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)