What it's like to live in Ithaca
Ithaca is a small city in New York with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Ithaca deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 63" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Ithaca compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Ithaca
Based on Ithaca's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,894
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,880 a year
- 57% of Ithaca renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$68,540
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,270
- Homes cost 7.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,447/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,447 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $342,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $342,700 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 48% below US
170 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2872/100k · Ithaca Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 4 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% take public transit; 25% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 17°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 88% above US
68% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (33 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Ithaca's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,447/mo) equals 36% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (25% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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