Compare towns

Syracuse vs DeWitt vs DeWitt vs Schenectady

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Syracuse has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
DeWitt has the highest household income ($124k).
DeWitt has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Schenectady has the oldest housing (typical home built 1941).

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.

MeasureSyracuseDeWittDeWittSchenectady
People
Population
146,384Highest
11,060Lowest
25,589
68,847
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
—
+0.9%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+1.4%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
31.8±0.4Lowest
20% below NY
41.4±4.4Highest
4% above NY
41.4±2Highest
4% above NY
36.1±1
9% below NY
Kids under 18
20.5%±0.7
NY: 20.5%
22.8%±4Highest
NY: 20.5%
22.1%±2.3
NY: 20.5%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
DeWitt and DeWitt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.4%±0.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
21.7%±2.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.2%±1.6
NY: 17.9%
15.1%±1.1
NY: 17.9%
DeWitt and DeWitt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.2%
NY: 40.2%
63.1%Highest
NY: 40.2%
49%
NY: 40.2%
25.4%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.8%±0.8Highest
NY: 7%
14.3%±2.4
NY: 7%
8.9%±1.3Lowest
NY: 7%
9.8%±1
NY: 7%
Syracuse and DeWitt 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
$123,864±$23kHighest
44% above NY
$92,218±$7k
7% above NY
$58,399±$3k
32% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$138,400±$5kLowest
67% below NY
$297,600±$20kHighest
30% below NY
$243,500±$13k
43% below NY
$168,800±$5k
60% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,039±$20Lowest
36% below NY
$1,172±$257Highest
28% below NY
$1,042±$73
36% below NY
$1,145±$33
29% below NY
DeWitt and Schenectady are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,210Lowest
51% below NY
$7,402Highest
12% above NY
$6,113
7% below NY
$4,874
26% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.4%±2.9
NY: 52.1%
51.3%±18.6
NY: 52.1%
44.4%±8.5Lowest
NY: 52.1%
58.5%±4.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
Schenectady and Syracuse 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%
8.5%Lowest
NY: 14%
8.8%
NY: 14%
23.8%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
72.7%
NY: 54.3%
73.6%Highest
NY: 54.3%
45.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1948
11 yrs older than NY
1964Highest
5 yrs newer than NY
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
1941Lowest
18 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
45% below NY
17 minLowest
48% below NY
18 min
46% below NY
22 minHighest
33% below NY
Work from home
12%±1.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
10.6%±3.3Lowest
NY: 14.9%
11.4%±2.3
NY: 14.9%
10.9%±1.4
NY: 14.9%
Syracuse and DeWitt 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 #70 of 484 in NY #70 of 484 in NY #400 of 484 in NY
School district NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — JAMESVILLE-DEWITT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · EAST SYRACUSE MINOA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL — JAMESVILLE-DEWITT HIGH SCHOOL SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
13.3Highest
—
11.6Lowest
13.3Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.