Compare towns
Albany vs Syracuse vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albany has the most renters (61.8% rent).
Syracuse has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($124k).
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.
| Measure | Albany | Syracuse | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 100,492 |
146,384Highest |
35,139Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.4% NY: +4.2% |
+4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 32±0.6 20% below NY |
31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY |
45.3±2Highest 14% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±0.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±0.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±1.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Bethlehem and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±0.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.2%±1.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% NY: 40.2% |
31.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
64.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 17.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
16.8%±0.8 NY: 7% |
4.3%±0.9Lowest 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±$3k 28% below NY |
$47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY |
$123,893±$9kHighest 44% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,700±$7k 45% below NY |
$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$370,400±$10kHighest 13% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,216±$37 25% below NY |
$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,721±$81Highest 6% above NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,091 23% below NY |
$3,210Lowest 51% below NY |
$7,842Highest 19% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±3.3 NY: 52.1% |
55.4%±2.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
40%±7.6Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
28.8%Highest NY: 14% |
5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
41.6% NY: 54.3% |
73%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 10 yrs older than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 39% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
12%±1.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
19.6%±2.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #355 of 484 in NY | #472 of 484 in NY | #34 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 | BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL | HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL | BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
13.3 |
13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.