RANK #409 / 1001 NAT · #30 / 45 NY · POP 75,102
1YR FORECAST: +3.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Cayuga County, New York, is distinguished by its connection to historical figures like Harriet Tubman, whose home is a National Historical Park in Auburn, the county seat. Located in the west-central part of New York within the Finger Lakes region, the county is about 25 miles southwest of Syracuse. Commuting options include public transportation via Centro, which serves Auburn, and ride-sharing services. The community offers a rural charm with access to several lakes, including Owasco and Cayuga, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, fishing, and boating.
Life in Cayuga County offers a blend of traditional values and access to natural resources. The county's economy is supported by manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. Recent economic development efforts have focused on streamlining support for businesses and attracting investment. The area features public schools, including Union Springs High School and Auburn High School. Residents can enjoy outdoor activities at locations like Fillmore Glen State Park and Sterling Nature Center.
Cayuga County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.2% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cayuga Data Campus (Former Cayuga Power Plant site)
TeraWulf Inc.
|
$450M | Permitting Stage |
|
Cayuga Milk Ingredients Expansion
Cayuga Milk Ingredients
|
$270M | Under Construction |
|
Garnet Energy Center Solar PV Park
ConnectGen Cayuga County
|
$215M | Permitting Stage |
|
Agricola Wind Project
Agricola Wind LLC (Liberty Renewables)
|
$97M | Planned |
|
Bluebird Renewable Energy Biogas Project
Bluebird Renewable Energy, LLC
|
$50M | Approved |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Cayuga County scores 59/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#409). Median household income is $67,904 and job growth is running at -0.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Cayuga County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $171,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.40 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $942/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Cayuga County are both close to flat — population -0.5% YoY and jobs -0.3%. Home values shifted +5.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.54% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cayuga County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Cayuga County is now valued at $171,000. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.