Syracuse
RANK #265 / 996 NAT · #14 / 45 NY · POP 472,637
1YR FORECAST: +4.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
The presence of Skaneateles Lake, one of the cleanest lakes in the world, distinguishes Onondaga County, New York. The county is located in the central part of New York State, with Syracuse as its largest city and county seat. It sits west of Albany and Utica, and east of Rochester. Commutes within the county average around 20 minutes, and public transportation is available through the Centro bus system. The community offers a mix of suburban and rural settings, with access to over 70 parks and recreational areas, including Green Lakes State Park and the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and water activities.
Onondaga County offers a quality of life that attracts families and individuals, with highly rated public schools in areas like Fayetteville and Liverpool. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in advanced manufacturing, particularly in the semiconductor industry. There are also ongoing initiatives to address housing needs and expand renewable energy infrastructure. The county's economic development efforts aim to create opportunities and strengthen the community for both current residents and those considering a move to the area.
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.5x — home prices are low 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.
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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Micron Technology Semiconductor Facility
Micron Technology
|
$100,000M | Under Construction |
|
Maple Harvest Wind Energy Project
Palmer
|
$160M | Proposed |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various (e.g., CVE US EI5 Manlius West LLC, Tesla Inc., AES Distributed Energy)
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Consolidated Jail Operations / Public Safety Campus
Onondaga County
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Mixed Residential Complex (436 units)
Undisclosed Developer
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 73/100, Onondaga County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.8%, and median household income stands at $71,479 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NY.
By national standards, Onondaga County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $172,800, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.41 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,002/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Onondaga County are hiring — job growth of +1.8% — but the population is close to flat (-0.4% YoY). Home values moved +5.8% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.41% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Onondaga County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.8% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Onondaga County is now valued at $172,800. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.