Compare towns
Onondaga vs Syracuse vs Lysander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Onondaga has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
Syracuse has the most renters (58.4% rent).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Onondaga | Syracuse | Lysander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,573Lowest |
146,384Highest |
23,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.4% NY: +4.2% |
+6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.4±2.7Highest 14% above NY |
31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY |
43.6±1.9 10% above NY |
| Onondaga and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±0.7 NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.2% NY: 40.2% |
31.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±1.2 NY: 7% |
16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,448±$5k 21% above NY |
$47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
| Lysander and Onondaga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,200±$15k 42% below NY |
$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$128Highest 18% below NY |
$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,130±$100 30% below NY |
| Onondaga and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,480 17% below NY |
$3,210Lowest 51% below NY |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±11.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.4%±2.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Syracuse and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
28.8%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
41.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 37% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
24 minHighest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12%±1.1 NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #122 of 484 in NY | #472 of 484 in NY | #158 of 484 in NY |
| School district | WESTHILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · ONONDAGA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | WESTHILL HIGH SCHOOL | HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
13.3 |
15.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.