Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★2.4 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in Ithaca, NY
Explore Ithaca and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match6.2 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
Ithaca at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population32,814
Median Household Income$48,784
Median Home Value$342,700
Median Gross Rent$1,447
Median Age23.3
Average Household Size1.7
Unemployment7.3%
Work From Home24.7%
Homeownership29.6%
Housing Vacancy12.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
Ithaca is a mid-sized community where local neighborhoods, nearby job centers and regional access can matter as much as citywide averages. Housing costs are high relative to local household income, making affordability one of the more important factors to examine before relocating here. Unemployment is elevated enough that job location and industry-specific opportunities deserve closer review.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in Ithaca Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in Ithaca →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Ithaca and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in Ithaca
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$342,700
Median Gross Rent$1,447
Homeownership29.6%
Housing Vacancy12.5%
Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. Renters make up a substantial share of the local housing market.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for Ithaca, NY
Median Household Income$48,784
Unemployment7.3%
Work From Home24.7%
The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions. Working from home is relatively common among employed residents.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in Ithaca and how households are structured
Population32,814
Median Age23.3
Average Household Size1.7
Ithaca is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in Ithaca
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for Ithaca point to warm summers, cold winters, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and substantial annual snowfall.
Average Summer High79.9°F
Average Winter Low14.6°F
Annual Rainfall38.3 in.
Annual Snowfall62.9 in.
Seasonal Life in Ithaca
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a useful time to evaluate how quickly outdoor conditions become comfortable and how seasonal rain affects everyday routines.
Summer
Summer highs are comparatively mild, which may reduce cooling demands and can make daytime outdoor activity more comfortable than in hotter inland locations.
Fall
Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.
Winter
Freezing winter lows and meaningful snowfall make snow removal, winter driving, heating costs and cold-weather routines important parts of evaluating the area.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
Ithaca is located in Tompkins County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. Tompkins County. Current county foreclosure activity is classified as medium, adding another housing-market signal for buyers comparing conventional and distressed-property opportunities.
County Intelligence
Ithaca & Tompkins County
Medium
Foreclosure Activity
Ithaca is located in Tompkins County, New York.
NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Ithaca.
Current NarrowTheList data for Ithaca shows a population of about 32,814. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Medium. Current signal uses NarrowTheList foreclosure-opportunity data until direct county delinquency and foreclosure datasets are connected.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
Tompkins County
How NarrowTheList uses it
County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Ithaca.
For someone considering a move to Ithaca, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting and employment conditions that make job-specific research important. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.