Syracuse, New York
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Syracuse.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Syracuse?
Syracuse planning snapshot: population 146,097, housing index 58 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog), median home $125,100, median rent $998, and income near $45,845. Expect 80°F summer highs, 19°F winter lows, and about 19-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 792.6 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 58U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $125,100U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $998U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $45,845U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.0%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 19 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 792.6per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 80°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Syracuse compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 146,097City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $45,845Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year42% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 58ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year42% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $125,100City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year59% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $998City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year26% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.0%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 19 min24% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 5829% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 792.6annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)35% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 3134annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)Near U.S. avg (3087.9)U.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 80°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 19°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals15.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 39.9 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals21% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 191As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals29% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Syracuse grew 0.6% from 145,215 in 2010 to 146,097 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Syracuse expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Syracuse's housing cost index is 58 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($125,100 vs $303,400) and rents ($998 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 58 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $125,100 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $998 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Syracuse?
Typical ownership costs center near $125,100, while median gross rent is about $998 a month. Against a median household income of $45,845, rent alone is roughly 26% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $125,100
- Median rent $998/month
- Median household income $45,845
What is the job market like in Syracuse?
County unemployment recently ran 4.0% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Syracuse is about $45,845 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.0% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $45,845
How long is the typical commute in Syracuse?
Average one-way commute time is about 19 minutes, with Walk Score near 58/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 19 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 58/100
Is Syracuse safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 792.6 per 100k and property about 3134 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 792.6 per 100k
- Property 3134 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Syracuse?
Normals show summer highs near 80°F, winter lows near 19°F, about 39.9 inches of rain, and roughly 191 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 80°F
- Winter low 19°F
- 39.9 in rain · 191 sunny days
Snow-belt Upstate and transit-heavy downstate markets feel like different worlds. Winter lows around 19°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Average one-way commute time is about 19 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 58/100. Labor-market readings near 4.0% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 792.6 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Syracuse, New York counts about 146,097 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $45,845 and a cost index of 58, the market reads among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs. Entry home prices around $125,100 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Syracuse is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Syracuse with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Syracuse city, 1600000US3673000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Onondaga County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014771 SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10