Syracuse, NY Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Syracuse, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Syracuse →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Syracuse, New York is home to roughly 146,134 residents. The typical household here earns $43,584 a year — below the median we track across cities (-40%).
Anyone weighing a move to Syracuse should know the median home value is $117,900, below the multi-city median (-64%), and median rent runs $932 per month. Current mortgage rates and local property taxes both affect the real math of buying versus renting.
At roughly 2.7 times median household income, home values in Syracuse are on the affordable end compared to the cities we cover. The local market has run hot: home prices are up 7.51% over the past year around Syracuse. Natural-hazard exposure in Syracuse is rated Relatively Moderate by FEMA — modest risk that generally keeps insurance premiums more manageable.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $932/mo in Syracuse would take 25.7% of your income.
$158/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($117,900) would take 17.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$388/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Syracuse
Median home value is $117,900 and median gross rent is $932/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Onondaga rose 7.51% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,392/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Syracuse's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Syracuse reported a violent crime rate of 612.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Syracuse
Planning a move to Syracuse? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Syracuse, NY?
- Cost of living in Syracuse centers on housing: median home value runs $117,900, median rent runs $932/month, and the typical household earns $43,584 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Syracuse?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Syracuse, where median rent runs $932/month, you'd want to earn about $37,280 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Syracuse.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Syracuse?
- Comparing the two in Syracuse: renting at the median $932/month needs about $37,280 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $117,900 median home needs roughly $26,975 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Syracuse safe?
- Syracuse reported a violent crime rate of 612.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data. Compare that figure against other cities you're considering for context.
See the full salary breakdown for Syracuse →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Syracuse's.