What are the schools like in Syracuse, NY?

Syracuse is served primarily by SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 19 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.9:1.

What is the median household income in Syracuse?

The median household income in Syracuse, NY is $43,584 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.6%.

What is the weather like in Syracuse, NY?

Syracuse has an average high temperature of 31.7°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 127.8 inches.

Syracuse, NY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Syracuse, NY affordable or expensive?

Syracuse's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Syracuse is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $117,900 and the median rent is $932 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Syracuse, NY?

Syracuse has a violent crime rate of 765.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4234.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Syracuse, NY a Good Place to Live?

Syracuse is a mid-sized city of 146,134 in New York, with a median household income of $43,584 and a 8.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Syracuse stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Syracuse is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Syracuse city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.2

Syracuse's overall cost of living index is 95.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Syracuse costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Syracuse, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$117,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$932	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	40.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,584	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Syracuse's violent crime rate is 765.3 per 100,000 residents — 101% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

765.3 /100k

Property Crime

4234.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Syracuse is served primarily by SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Syracuse, NY	National Avg
School District	SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	19	—
Middle Schools	6	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Syracuse sees average highs of 31.7°F in January and 81.7°F in July, with 43.4 inches of annual precipitation and 127.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Syracuse, NY
Average High — January	31.7°F
Average High — July	81.7°F
Annual Precipitation	43.4"
Annual Snowfall	127.8"

Demographics

Metric	Syracuse, NY	National Avg
Population	146,134	—
Median Age	31.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	51.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	29.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.1%	18.9%
Asian	6.9%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	13.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lyncourt, NY 3 mi De Witt, NY 3 mi Solvay, NY 4 mi Westvale, NY 4 mi Galeville, NY 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Syracuse

Syracuse, NY is covered by 12 ZIP codes:

13204 13210 13205 13207 13208 13206 13224 13203 13202 13244 13290 13215

Syracuse vs Other Cities

Syracuse, NY vs Lyncourt, NY Syracuse, NY vs De Witt, NY Syracuse, NY vs Solvay, NY Syracuse, NY vs Westvale, NY Syracuse, NY vs Galeville, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Syracuse, NY affordable or expensive?

Syracuse's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Syracuse roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $117,900 and median rent is $932/month.

What is the crime rate in Syracuse, NY?

Syracuse's violent crime rate is 765.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4234.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Syracuse?

Public schools in Syracuse are operated by SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 19 elementary, 6 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.9:1. 29.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Syracuse, NY a good place to live?

Syracuse, NY has a population of 146,134, a median household income of $43,584, and an unemployment rate of 8.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Syracuse?

Syracuse averages 31.7°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.4 inches with about 127.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Syracuse?

Syracuse, NY is covered by 12 ZIP codes: 13204, 13210, 13205, 13207, 13208, 13206, 13224, 13203, 13202, 13244, 13290, 13215.

What is the population of Syracuse?

The population of Syracuse, New York is 146,134 with a median age of 31.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Syracuse?

Key numbers for living in Syracuse: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $117,900, median household income $43,584, crime index 201 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Syracuse side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.