What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albany has the most expensive homes ($235k median).

Syracuse has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Albany	Syracuse
People
Population	100,492Lowest	146,384Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	32±0.6Highest 20% below NY	31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY
	Albany and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±0.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	14%±0.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	14.4%±0.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Syracuse and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	31.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	17.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	16.8%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Albany and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,986±$3kHighest 28% below NY	$47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,700±$7kHighest 45% below NY	$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,216±$37Highest 25% below NY	$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,091Highest 23% below NY	$3,210Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.4%±2.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Syracuse and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22.9%Lowest NY: 14%	28.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	38.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	41.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Highest 10 yrs older than NY	1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 39% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	13.2%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%	12%±1.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Albany and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#355 of 484 in NY	#472 of 484 in NY
School district	NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS · ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL	HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	15.2Highest	13.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.