Syracuse, NY Local Data & Statistics

State: NY

Total population: 146,384 Household income: $47,819 Rent: $1,039

Overview

Total population

146,384

Rent

$1,039

Year built

1948

Household income

$47,819

Per capita income

$28,393

Poverty rate

28.8%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

New York

Total population

146,384

Adults over 25

90,369

Total households

59,816

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$47,819

Per capita income

$28,393

Poverty rate

28.8%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

51.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,039

Year built

1948

Households that rent

58.4%

Households that own

41.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.3

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

50.8%

Black

27.3%

Asian

7.3%

Two or more races

10.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

10.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

88%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

12%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

29.6%

High school graduate or GED

26.4%

Some college or associate degree

12.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

31.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Syracuse, NY with: New York State United States

Syracuse, NY

Total population146,384

Rent$1,039

Year built1948

Household income$47,819

Per capita income$28,393

Poverty rate28.8%

Unemployment rate4.1%

New York State

Total population19,852,366

Rent$1,621

Year built1959

Household income$85,974

Per capita income$50,712

Poverty rate14%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CitySyracuse, NY	StateNew York	CountryUnited States
Total population	146,384	19,852,366	334,922,499
Rent	$1,039	$1,621	$1,413
Year built	1948	1959	1980
Household income	$47,819	$85,974	$80,734
Per capita income	$28,393	$50,712	$44,673
Poverty rate	28.8%	14%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	4.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Syracuse, NY, New York and United States →

Summary for Syracuse, NY

Syracuse is located in New York.

Rent & Income

In Syracuse, the typical monthly rent is $1,039 and the typical household income is $47,819. Rent here is lower than in both New York and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 28.8%, which is higher than in both New York and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 58.4% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 51.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 31.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is similar to both New York and the national rate.

Syracuse, NY — Rent vs Household Income

Syracuse, NY — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Syracuse, NY compares in New York State (13 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,039	2 / 13	from lower rent	$951 – $2,269
Household income	$47,819	12 / 13	from higher income	$47,213 – $110,763
Poverty rate	28.8%	13 / 13	from lower poverty	10.1% – 28.8%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	8 / 13	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 5.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in New York State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Syracuse, NY

Rent

For typical rent levels, Syracuse is ranked 2nd out of 13 major areas in New York. Statewide values span from $951 in Utica, NY to $2,269 in White Plains, NY.

Household income

In terms of household income, Syracuse comes in 12th among 13 major places. Across New York, income levels vary from $47,213 in Rochester, NY to $110,763 in White Plains, NY.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Syracuse ranks 13th out of 13 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 10.1% in New Rochelle, NY to 28.8% in Syracuse, NY.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Syracuse ranks 8th out of 13 large places. Across New York, unemployment ranges from 2.8% in White Plains, NY to 5.2% in New York, NY.

💰 Rent in Syracuse, NY (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,039 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Syracuse, NY

Annual Household Income: $47,819

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Syracuse, NY

Estimated Rate: 28.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Syracuse, NY

In Syracuse, NY, households that rent: 34,927 (58.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	34,927	58.4%
Owner-Occupied	24,889	41.6%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Syracuse, NY

In Syracuse, NY, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 18,100 (51.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	18,100	51.8%
Other renter households	16,827	48.2%
Total renter households	34,927	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Syracuse, NY

Less than High School: 26,760 people (29.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 23,860 people (26.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 11,510 people (12.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 28,239 people (31.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 90,369

📊 Unemployment Rate in Syracuse, NY

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Denton, TX146,987 Savannah, GA147,546 Rockford, IL147,649 Bridgeport, CT148,012 Pomona, CA148,391 Mesquite, TX148,848 McAllen, TX143,789 Olathe, KS143,720 Gainesville, FL143,611 Torrance, CA143,499

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.