Syracuse combines urban amenities with easy access to outdoor recreation in the Finger Lakes region and Adirondack Mountains. The massive Destiny USA shopping and entertainment complex anchors the retail scene, while the historic Armory Square district buzzes with restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Cultural attractions include the hands-on Museum of Science and Technology, the Erie Canal Museum, and the Everson Museum of Art. Sports fans can catch Syracuse University games at the JMA Wireless Dome or watch the Syracuse Mets play at NBT Bank Stadium.
The Syracuse housing market features diverse options across distinct neighborhoods. The median sale price for homes in Syracuse is $200,000. Single family homes in the Eastside neighborhood command a median price of $250,000, while the Westside area has a median price of $125,300. The Onondaga Hill area represents the highest-priced area with a median single family home price of $372,500. Townhomes throughout the city have a median price of $248,000, while one-bedroom condos typically sell for a median price of $213,500.
The cost of living in Syracuse sits 3.7% above the national average. A family with school-age children needs an annual income of $109,000 to live comfortably, with housing costs averaging $31,000 per year. The property tax rate is 2.59%, higher than nearby Utica at 2.13% but lower than Rochester at 2.79%. Syracuse public schools include the A-rated Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central, while private options feature the A+ rated Manlius Pebble Hill School. The city experiences four distinct seasons with warm summers reaching 80°F and snowy winters averaging 120 inches of snowfall annually.
