1st Advantage MortgageIn Cayuga County, New York, the typical household earns $67,904 a year and the typical rent is $942. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Cayuga County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Cayuga County in brief
- How Cayuga County residents earn a living
- Cayuga County against other New York counties
- Where Cayuga County households live
- The $67,904 median and what sits around it
- Counties near Cayuga County
- Cayuga County communities by population
- Reading the Cayuga County data as a borrower
- Cayuga County households compared
- A Cayuga County household budget, worked through
- Verifying a lender from Cayuga County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Cayuga County
- Frequently asked questions
Cayuga County in brief
With an estimated 75,102 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cayuga County ranks 36th of 62 in New York for population. Land area is 692 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 109 per square mile. Metro status: none; Cayuga County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (10 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Auburn, with about 26,285 residents, or 35% of the county.
How Cayuga County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Cayuga County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 13% locally and 6% for New York. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Where residents work | Cayuga County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.0% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | +7.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cayuga County against other New York counties
Out of every New York county, Cayuga County is most unusual on these measures.
- Few New York counties match Cayuga County on the ACS unemployment rate: 3.8% here, 6.4% for the state, ranking 7th lowest of 62. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- Few New York counties match Cayuga County on the share of workers who work from home: 7.7% here, 14.9% for the state, ranking 9th lowest of 62. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
Where Cayuga County households live
Renters in Cayuga County pay a median of $942 a month, 42% below the New York figure of $1,621. By the Census definition, 50% of Cayuga County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $171,000, about 2.5 times the median household income. Homeowners 71%, renters 29%. The median home was built in 1958, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Against the median U.S. county, Cayuga County rent is 7% above.
| Housing | Cayuga County | New York statewide | Cayuga County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $942/mo | $1,621/mo | 42% lower |
| Median home value | $171,000 | $423,800 | 60% lower |
| Owners | 71% | 54% | +17.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | -2.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 33% | -8.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 2.1% | +7.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 14% | 10% | +4.4 pts |
The $67,904 median and what sits around it
Median household income in Cayuga County: $67,904 (21% below New York, $85,974). That places it 46th among New York's 62 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Cayuga County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +8.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.2% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -10.5 pts |
Six-figure households (32%) outnumber those under $35,000 (25%) in Cayuga County. Poverty rate, Cayuga County: 13.5%; New York: 14.0%. Cayuga County scores 0.436 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. A household earning below the $67,904 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Counties near Cayuga County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 38 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Cayuga County's $67,904 median trails 6 of the six and beats 0; the range runs $68,089 (Seneca County) to $76,945 (Onondaga County).
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayuga County | - | $67,904 | $942/mo | 71% |
| Onondaga County, NY | 19 mi | $76,945 | $1,108/mo | 66% |
| Seneca County, NY | 20 mi | $68,089 | $957/mo | 71% |
| Wayne County, NY | 28 mi | $74,506 | $938/mo | 80% |
| Oswego County, NY | 36 mi | $69,183 | $967/mo | 73% |
| Yates County, NY | 37 mi | $69,701 | $834/mo | 77% |
| Cortland County, NY | 38 mi | $70,418 | $984/mo | 66% |
Cayuga County communities by population
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Cayuga County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 36,713 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Melrose Park ($103,723) and Port Byron ($48,750) mark the top and bottom of Cayuga County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $469 in Fair Haven to $1,350 in Aurora. This guide covers each of the 11 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | city | 26,285 | $51,052 | $897 | 5 mi |
| Melrose Park | CDP | 1,960 | $103,723 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Weedsport | village | 1,954 | $70,865 | $1,156 | 3 mi |
| Moravia | village | 1,385 | $63,073 | $829 | 22 mi |
| Union Springs | village | 1,255 | $81,250 | $1,030 | 13 mi |
| Fair Haven | village | 1,013 | $57,390 | $469 | 23 mi |
| Port Byron | village | 900 | $48,750 | $1,071 | 3 mi |
| Aurora | village | 651 | $71,250 | $1,350 | 19 mi |
| Cayuga | village | 575 | $97,885 | $728 | 10 mi |
| Cato | village | 515 | $82,292 | $695 | 11 mi |
| Meridian | village | 220 | $93,750 | $967 | 11 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Reading the Cayuga County data as a borrower
Based on the Cayuga County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Cayuga County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Consolidating cards in Cayuga County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Cayuga County households compared
In Cayuga County, 25% of adults have at least a four-year degree (40% in New York). The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 5.1% for New York.
| Cayuga County | vs New York | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No vehicle | 9.1% | -20.2 pts | +3.6 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.6% | -15.6 pts | +2.5 pts |
| Work from home | 7.7% | -7.2 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Median age | 43.8 | +4.0 yrs | +2.3 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | -2.6 pts | -0.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | -1.4 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | -0.5 pts | -3.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | -0.5 pts | +0.3 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Cayuga County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
A Cayuga County household budget, worked through
DTI math using Cayuga County medians ($67,904 income, $942 rent):
- Monthly gross at the median, Cayuga County: $5,659
- Less median rent of $942, which is 17% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,263 total minus rent leaves $1,321
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cayuga County's.
Verifying a lender from Cayuga County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cayuga County borrowers answers to the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The New York guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Cayuga County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Cayuga County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Cayuga County
No city in Cayuga County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cayuga County a high-income county?
Its $67,904 median ranks 46th of 62 New York counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Cayuga County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $942 against $1,621 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Cayuga County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Auburn, Melrose Park, Weedsport, Moravia, Union Springs and 6 more.
Can Cayuga County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every New York county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Cayuga County residents?
The New York State Department of Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in New York; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.