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Living in
Binghamton.
About
Life in Binghamton
If you're considering Binghamton, know that you're looking at a genuinely affordable city with a median home value around $125,000 and rents averaging $867 monthly—real money saved compared to most Northeast markets. The trade-off is weather: winters are cold and snowy with 86.5 inches annually, and the city sees 164 days of precipitation yearly thanks to Great Lakes moisture—it's cloudy roughly half the year. The landscape itself is beautiful, with rolling hills and river valleys, though the terrain means you'll be navigating significant elevation changes throughout the city.
Binghamton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
32.6%
Foreign-Born
11.7%
Broadband Internet
87.6%
of households
Population Growth
-3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.7% foreign-born, most often from Haiti
Who lives in Binghamton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Binghamton, the largest foreign-born group is from Haiti (13.7%), and 3.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.9%
of residents
65 and Older
18.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.6%
of households
Married Couples
23.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.13
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 46% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Binghamton
In Binghamton, rent runs 46% below the NY average, and home values are 71% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,622
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1945
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $190,913 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Binghamton
Unemployment in Binghamton is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Binghamton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19 min avg
How Binghamton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Binghamton, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Greater Binghamton/Edwin A Link field (BGM)
Regional airport · few flights15k passengers boarded in 2025
- 132 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 70% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Binghamton runs 70% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
558.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,209
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Binghamton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Broome County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Broome County, which includes Binghamton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $24.9M |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $224,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $108,250 |
| 2022 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $387,550 |
| 2021 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $939,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $844,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $348,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $378,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Broome County, county-wide
Air Quality22 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Susquehanna County, PA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 20 miles from Binghamton) is typically good — 275 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
22
Good Days
275
per year
Moderate Days
34
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Susquehanna County, PA (20 mi away)
Climate76°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Binghamton has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
57°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.1"
Annual Snowfall
86.5"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
142
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
164
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 16°F | 2.62" |
| Feb | 32°F | 17°F | 2.41" |
| Mar | 41°F | 24°F | 3.05" |
| Apr | 54°F | 35°F | 3.63" |
| May | 66°F | 46°F | 3.78" |
| Jun | 74°F | 55°F | 4.69" |
| Jul | 78°F | 59°F | 3.80" |
| Aug | 77°F | 58°F | 4.10" |
| Sep | 70°F | 51°F | 4.01" |
| Oct | 57°F | 41°F | 3.76" |
| Nov | 45°F | 31°F | 3.11" |
| Dec | 34°F | 22°F | 3.08" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Binghamton
Binghamton has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
United Health Services Hospitals, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Greater Binghamton Health Center
Psychiatric · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education9.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Binghamton
Binghamton's student/teacher ratio is 9.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Steamtown National Historic Site, 49 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Binghamton
Binghamton has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Steamtown National Historic Site (49 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Steamtown National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Scenic & Recreational River
54 mi awayHarriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
65 mi awayWomen's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
72 mi awayFort Stanwix National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayDelaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Binghamton
Broome County Public Library
185 Court Street, Binghamton
Cities Near Binghamton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Binghamton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Binghamton FAQ
Is Binghamton, New York affordable?⌄
Binghamton's median rent is $870/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $45,578/year. Median home value is $124,800.
Is Binghamton, New York safe?⌄
Binghamton's violent crime rate was 559 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3209 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Binghamton, New York?⌄
Binghamton has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Binghamton, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Binghamton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $870/month and median household income is $45,578/year. The median home value is $124,800. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Binghamton, New York?⌄
The average commute in Binghamton is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from