Compare towns
Ramapo vs Syracuse vs Buffalo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ramapo has the most expensive homes ($653k median).
Syracuse has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Buffalo has the oldest population (median age 34.3).
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 | Ramapo | Syracuse | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 152,401 |
146,384Lowest |
276,854Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+2.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+6.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 25.1±0.5Lowest 37% below NY |
31.8±0.4 20% below NY |
34.3±0.5Highest 14% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 39.8%±0.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±0.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.3%±0.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 10.9%±0.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.2%±0.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Syracuse and Buffalo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
31.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±0.4Lowest NY: 7% |
16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
8.5%±0.5 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,463±$4kHighest 4% below NY |
$47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY |
$50,041±$2k 42% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $653,100±$18kHighest 54% above NY |
$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$164,200±$5k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,787±$53Highest 10% above NY |
$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,046±$18 35% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
$3,210 51% below NY |
$1,622Lowest 75% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±3.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
55.4%±2.9 NY: 52.1% |
52.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 26.5% NY: 14% |
28.8%Highest NY: 14% |
26%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
41.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
43% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1948 11 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 20% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.3%±1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12%±1.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.3%±0.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Syracuse and Ramapo 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 | #385 of 484 in NY | #472 of 484 in NY | #455 of 484 in NY |
| School district | EAST RAMAPO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (SPRING VALLEY) · SUFFERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | RAMAPO HIGH SCHOOL | HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL | HUTCHINSON CENTRAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
13.3Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.