Compare towns
Schenectady vs Utica vs Binghamton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Schenectady has the most people working from home (10.9%).
Utica has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Binghamton has the most affordable homes ($125k median).
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 | Schenectady | Utica | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 68,847Highest |
64,217 |
47,151Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% NY: +4.2% |
+4.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+1.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 36.1±1Highest 9% below NY |
35.2±1Lowest 12% below NY |
35.9±1.6 10% below NY |
| Schenectady and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 NY: 20.5% |
25.4%±1.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
15.2%±1 NY: 17.9% |
18%±1.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% NY: 40.2% |
22.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
30.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±1 NY: 7% |
7.4%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
13.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,399±$3kHighest 32% below NY |
$52,484±$3k 39% below NY |
$45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY |
| Schenectady and Utica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,800±$5kHighest 60% below NY |
$151,300±$6k 64% below NY |
$124,800±$7kLowest 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
$951±$24 41% below NY |
$870±$38Lowest 46% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,874Highest 26% below NY |
$3,246Lowest 51% below NY |
$3,622 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
52.6%±5 NY: 52.1% |
51.4%±3.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Schenectady and Utica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
27.5% NY: 14% |
32.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.6% NY: 54.3% |
49.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
44%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 18 yrs older than NY |
1940Lowest 19 yrs older than NY |
1945Highest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 33% below NY |
20 min 40% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±2 NY: 14.9% |
| Schenectady and Binghamton 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 | #400 of 484 in NY | #383 of 484 in NY | #426 of 484 in NY |
| School district | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · UTICA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL | THOMAS R PROCTOR HIGH SCHOOL | BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
16.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.