Compare towns
Syracuse vs Schenectady vs Geddes
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%).
Schenectady has the oldest housing (typical home built 1941).
Geddes has the most homeowners (73.3%).
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 | Geddes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 146,384Highest |
68,847 |
16,831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4% NY: +4.2% |
-0.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY |
36.1±1 9% below NY |
42.3±2.3Highest 6% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±0.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.4%±2.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Geddes and Syracuse 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% |
15.1%±1.1 NY: 17.9% |
22.5%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% NY: 40.2% |
25.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7% |
9.8%±1 NY: 7% |
4.2%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY |
$58,399±$3k 32% below NY |
$76,839±$7kHighest 11% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$168,800±$5k 60% below NY |
$182,400±$6kHighest 57% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$20 36% below NY |
$1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
$965±$67Lowest 40% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,210Lowest 51% below NY |
$4,874 26% below NY |
$5,421Highest 18% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±2.9 NY: 52.1% |
58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.2%±7.6Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
4.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
45.6% NY: 54.3% |
73.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948 11 yrs older than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 45% below NY |
22 minHighest 33% below NY |
19 min 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 12%±1.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±2.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Syracuse and Geddes 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 | #327 of 484 in NY |
| School district | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | WESTHILL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SOLVAY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL | SOLVAY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
13.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.