© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Utica.
About
Life in Utica
Utica offers an genuinely affordable cost of living in upstate New York with a median household income around $52,484 and median home values near $151,000—a real advantage if you're priced out of larger metros. The job market is modest but stable, anchored by the Mohawk Valley Health System and companies like CONMED; unemployment sits at 4.6%, and your commute would average under 20 minutes. What makes this city distinctive is its authentic cultural fabric—it's been a gateway for immigrants and refugees for decades, and that diversity is baked into neighborhoods, restaurants (369 of them), and the everyday character of the place.
Utica at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.5%
Foreign-Born
20.6%
Broadband Internet
87.2%
of households
Population Growth
-3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.6% foreign-born, most often from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Who lives in Utica: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Utica, the largest foreign-born group is from Bosnia and Herzegovina (19.4%), and 8.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
15.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.8%
of households
Married Couples
32.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.39
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 41% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Utica
In Utica, rent runs 41% below the NY average, and home values are 64% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,246
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1940
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $210,433 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Utica
Unemployment in Utica 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 Utica Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.5 min avg
How Utica residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Utica, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 44 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 38% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Utica runs 38% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
455
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,989.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Utica 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 Utica, 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 Utica, 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
Climate78°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Utica has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.1"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
140
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
174
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 14°F | 2.65" |
| Feb | 32°F | 15°F | 2.26" |
| Mar | 41°F | 23°F | 3.02" |
| Apr | 55°F | 35°F | 3.91" |
| May | 68°F | 46°F | 3.88" |
| Jun | 76°F | 55°F | 4.47" |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 4.18" |
| Aug | 79°F | 58°F | 4.68" |
| Sep | 72°F | 51°F | 3.47" |
| Oct | 59°F | 41°F | 4.29" |
| Nov | 46°F | 31°F | 3.63" |
| Dec | 35°F | 21°F | 3.56" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Utica
Utica has 2 hospitals, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
3.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Wynn Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Rome Memorial Hospital, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.3 mi away · Rome
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.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Utica
Utica's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Utica
Mohawk Valley Community College
Public · 2-year · 2,950 students · in-state tuition $6,324 · 38% graduate · median earnings $45,196 (10 yrs after entry)
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
Private 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, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Utica
Utica has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Stanwix National Monument (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Stanwix National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayHarriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
69 mi awaySaratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
81 mi awayWomen's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
81 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayThomas Cole National Historic Site
National Historic Site
92 mi awayUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Scenic & Recreational River
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Utica
Utica Public Library
303 Genesee Street, Utica
Cities Near Utica
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Utica?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Utica FAQ
Is Utica, New York affordable?⌄
Utica's median rent is $951/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $52,484/year. Median home value is $151,300.
Is Utica, New York safe?⌄
Utica's violent crime rate was 455 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2990 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Utica, New York?⌄
Utica has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Utica, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Utica is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $951/month and median household income is $52,484/year. The median home value is $151,300. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Utica, New York?⌄
The average commute in Utica is 20 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