What stands out worked out from the figures below

Syracuse has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Albany has the most expensive homes ($235k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Syracuse	Albany
People
Population	146,384Highest	100,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY	32±0.6Highest 20% below NY
	Albany and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5%	13.9%±0.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	14.4%±0.6Highest NY: 17.9%	14%±0.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Syracuse and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	45.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.8%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	17.6%±1.1Highest 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	$47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY	$61,986±$3kHighest 28% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY	$234,700±$7kHighest 45% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY	$1,216±$37Highest 25% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,210Lowest 51% below NY	$5,091Highest 23% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.4%±2.9Highest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±3.3Lowest 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	28.8%Highest NY: 14%	22.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	38.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY	1949Highest 10 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 45% below NY	20 minHighest 39% below NY
Work from home	12%±1.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.2%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Albany and Syracuse 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	#472 of 484 in NY	#355 of 484 in NY
School district	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS · ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL	ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Lowest	15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.