Compare towns
Rochester vs Syracuse vs Irondequoit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most renters (61.9% rent).
Syracuse has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Irondequoit has the most homeowners (78.8%).
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 | Rochester | Syracuse | Irondequoit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 208,772Highest |
146,384 |
50,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% NY: +4.2% |
+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5 15% below NY |
31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY |
43.3±1.7Highest 9% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±0.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Rochester and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±0.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±1.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
31.2% NY: 40.2% |
40.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.8%±0.6 NY: 7% |
16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.8%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,213±$2kLowest 45% below NY |
$47,819±$2k 44% below NY |
$79,162±$3kHighest 8% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$5k 67% below NY |
$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$182,500±$3kHighest 57% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$16 33% below NY |
$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,159±$42Highest 29% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,152Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,210 51% below NY |
$5,774Highest 12% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
55.4%±2.9 NY: 52.1% |
57.5%±8.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Irondequoit and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 27.8% NY: 14% |
28.8%Highest NY: 14% |
9.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
41.6% NY: 54.3% |
78.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1948 11 yrs older than NY |
1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 41% below NY |
18 minLowest 45% below NY |
20 minHighest 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.5%±1.2 NY: 14.9% |
12%±1.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.5%±1.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Irondequoit and Rochester 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 | #458 of 484 in NY | #472 of 484 in NY | #127 of 484 in NY |
| School district | EXPLORATION ELE CS - SCIENCE-TECHNOL · ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | EAST IRONDEQUOIT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEST IRONDEQUOIT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | EDISON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL | HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL | IRONDEQUOIT HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
13.3Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.