Best Life Index › States › New York › Cities › Syracuse

New York city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Syracuse?

What it costs to live in Syracuse, and how it compares with other New York cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

43

100th best value in New York

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New York cities.

Overall livability

22

128th overall in New York

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Syracuse is home to about 146,781 people. A typical home runs $99,200 and a household earns around $40,500, a price-to-income ratio of 2.5. Among New York's largest cities, it ranks 100th for value and 128th overall.

Syracuse at a glance

Median home price

$99,200

27th in NY of 135

Median rent

$861/mo

Median household income

$40,500

Home price to income

2.5x

Unemployment

9.4%

130th in NY of 135

School rating

2/10

132nd in NY of 135

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NY of 135

Walk score

17/100

See your real take-home pay in New York

Enter your salary and see your paycheck after New York taxes.

Calculate my take-home pay ›

‹ See all top New York cities ranked  ยท  New York state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New York only. Updated 2026.