Compare towns
Syracuse vs Rochester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Rochester has the most renters (61.9% rent).
Schenectady has the highest household income ($58k).
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 | Syracuse | Rochester | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 146,384 |
208,772Highest |
68,847Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY |
33.7±0.5 15% below NY |
36.1±1Highest 9% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±0.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest 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+ | 14.4%±0.6 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±0.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Schenectady and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
30% NY: 40.2% |
25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
8.8%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
9.8%±1 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,819±$2k 44% below NY |
$47,213±$2kLowest 45% below NY |
$58,399±$3kHighest 32% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$139,600±$5k 67% below NY |
$168,800±$5kHighest 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,081±$16 33% below NY |
$1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,210 51% below NY |
$3,152Lowest 52% below NY |
$4,874Highest 26% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±2.9 NY: 52.1% |
53.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
27.8% NY: 14% |
23.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.6% NY: 54.3% |
38.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
45.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Highest 11 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1941 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 45% below NY |
19 min 41% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 12%±1.1 NY: 14.9% |
12.5%±1.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Rochester 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 | #458 of 484 in NY | #400 of 484 in NY |
| School district | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | EXPLORATION ELE CS - SCIENCE-TECHNOL · ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL | EDISON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
8.8Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| 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.