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Living in
Rome.
About
Life in Rome
If you're considering Rome as a place to live, understand that this is a city in transition—historically significant but still working to rebuild after losing industrial jobs and a major Air Force base. The good news is that the cost of living is genuinely affordable: median home values hover around $154,000 and median rent is under $900, which goes a long way compared to most of New York State. The job market is stable with a low 4.2% unemployment rate, and your commute will likely be quick at around 18 minutes on average.
Rome at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.1%
Foreign-Born
3.7%
Broadband Internet
88.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.7% foreign-born, most often from Guyana
Who lives in Rome: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rome, the largest foreign-born group is from Guyana (11.4%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.5%
of residents
65 and Older
19.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.4%
of households
Married Couples
34.1%
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 44% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Rome
In Rome, rent runs 44% below the NY average, and home values are 64% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,212
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $213,310 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Rome
Unemployment in Rome 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 Rome Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18 min avg
How Rome residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rome, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 33 mi
Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR)
Small hub1.4M 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 34% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rome runs 34% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
218.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,386.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rome Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 29 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Oneida County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Oneida County, which includes Rome, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 29 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | Lake-Effect Snow | $3.2M |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.9M |
| 2023 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $197,000 |
| 2022 | 20 | Lake-Effect Snow | $18,450 |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $384,700 |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105,000 |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $555,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Heavy Snow | $110,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Oneida County, county-wide
Air Quality27 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oneida County, which includes Rome, is typically good — 298 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
27
Good Days
298
per year
Moderate Days
55
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Oneida County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rome has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.8"
Annual Snowfall
151.3"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
147
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
175
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 13°F | 2.50" |
| Feb | 32°F | 13°F | 2.37" |
| Mar | 41°F | 23°F | 3.43" |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 3.72" |
| May | 69°F | 45°F | 4.46" |
| Jun | 76°F | 55°F | 4.20" |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 4.25" |
| Aug | 79°F | 58°F | 3.60" |
| Sep | 72°F | 51°F | 3.95" |
| Oct | 59°F | 41°F | 4.67" |
| Nov | 47°F | 31°F | 3.72" |
| Dec | 36°F | 21°F | 2.95" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rome
Rome has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Rome Memorial Hospital, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Oneida Health Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.1 mi away · Oneida
Wynn Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.1 mi away · Utica
Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 14.6 mi away · Utica
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.
Education11.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rome
Rome's student/teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rome (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,278 students · in-state tuition $28,480 · 64% graduate · median earnings $69,651 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing
15 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 153 students · in-state tuition $20,180 · 80% graduate · median earnings $84,614 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Stanwix National Monument, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rome
Rome has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Stanwix National Monument (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Stanwix National Monument
National Monument
2 mi awayHarriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
58 mi awayWomen's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
70 mi awaySaratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rome
Jervis Public Library
613 North Washington Street, Rome
Cities Near Rome
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rome?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rome FAQ
Is Rome, New York affordable?⌄
Rome's median rent is $909/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,925/year. Median home value is $154,400.
Is Rome, New York safe?⌄
Rome's violent crime rate was 219 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1387 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rome, New York?⌄
Rome has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rome, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Rome is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $909/month and median household income is $59,925/year. The median home value is $154,400. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rome, New York?⌄
The average commute in Rome is 18 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