Compare towns
Syracuse vs Schenectady vs Buffalo
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).
Schenectady has the highest household income ($58k).
Buffalo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Schenectady | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 146,384 |
68,847Lowest |
276,854Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+6.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY |
36.1±1Highest 9% below NY |
34.3±0.5 14% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±0.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.3%±0.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±0.6 NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.2%±0.5Lowest 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% |
25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
31.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
9.8%±1 NY: 7% |
8.5%±0.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY |
$58,399±$3kHighest 32% below NY |
$50,041±$2k 42% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$168,800±$5kHighest 60% below NY |
$164,200±$5k 61% below NY |
| Schenectady and Buffalo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
$1,046±$18 35% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,210 51% below NY |
$4,874Highest 26% below NY |
$1,622Lowest 75% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±2.9 NY: 52.1% |
58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
52.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
23.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
26% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
45.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
43% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Highest 11 yrs older than NY |
1941 18 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 45% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 12%±1.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.3%±0.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Syracuse and Buffalo 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 | #400 of 484 in NY | #455 of 484 in NY |
| School district | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL | HUTCHINSON CENTRAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
13.3Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.