1st Advantage MortgageOnondaga County households have a median income of $76,945 and median rent of $1,108 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's New York license first.
On this page
- Onondaga County at a glance
- Household income in Onondaga County
- Jobs and commutes in Onondaga County
- Renting and owning in Onondaga County
- Regional comparison for Onondaga County
- The communities that make up Onondaga County
- Debt-to-income at Onondaga County's medians
- People and households in Onondaga County
- Before borrowing in Onondaga County
- Checklist for Onondaga County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Onondaga County
- More guides for Onondaga County
- Frequently asked questions
Onondaga County at a glance
With an estimated 471,129 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Onondaga County ranks 11th of 62 in New York for population. Land area is 778 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 605 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Syracuse, NY metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 29 places in the county (16 incorporated, 13 census-designated); the largest is Syracuse, with about 146,384 residents, or 31% of the county.
Household income in Onondaga County
Half of Onondaga County households take in less than $76,945 a year and half take in more, 11% below the New York median of $85,974. In the state ranking that is 21st of 62.
| Yearly household income | Onondaga County | Gap to New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.1% | +1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.8% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.4% | +0.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.7% | -6.4 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. Census counts 13.8% of Onondaga County residents in poverty, against 14.0% across New York. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.464 here. For a borrower in Onondaga County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Onondaga County
The biggest employer of Onondaga County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 33% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (11%). Compared with New York, the county leans toward education and health care (33% against 29%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. 12.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Onondaga County workers | vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.0% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.3% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -1.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.3% | -1.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Renting and owning in Onondaga County
A typical Onondaga County rental runs $1,108 a month including utilities, which is 32% below New York. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. With a median value of $200,200, a typical Onondaga County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 66% of Onondaga County households own their home and 34% rent. The median home was built in 1964, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Onondaga County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,108/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $200,200 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% | 2.1% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Regional comparison for Onondaga County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 41 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Madison County leads the group on income ($75,499), Cayuga County trails ($67,904), and Onondaga County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onondaga County | - | $76,945 | $1,108/mo | 66% |
| Cayuga County, NY | 19 mi | $67,904 | $942/mo | 71% |
| Madison County, NY | 28 mi | $75,499 | $928/mo | 78% |
| Cortland County, NY | 29 mi | $70,418 | $984/mo | 66% |
| Oswego County, NY | 31 mi | $69,183 | $967/mo | 73% |
| Seneca County, NY | 35 mi | $68,089 | $957/mo | 71% |
| Tompkins County, NY | 41 mi | $74,024 | $1,411/mo | 54% |
The communities that make up Onondaga County
The table lists the 14 largest of 29 Census places in Onondaga County, by population. Together all 29 hold about 258,009 people, so roughly 45% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $127,559 at the median in Fayetteville, $47,819 in Syracuse. Median rent ranges from $771 in Seneca Knolls to $1,507 in Nedrow. One of them, Syracuse, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | city | 146,384 | $47,819 | $1,039 | 4 mi |
| De Witt | CDP | 11,060 | $123,864 | $1,172 | 6 mi |
| Fairmount | CDP | 9,724 | $84,225 | $1,341 | 4 mi |
| Baldwinsville | village | 7,715 | $77,241 | $1,201 | 13 mi |
| North Syracuse | village | 6,693 | $71,026 | $995 | 9 mi |
| Radisson | CDP | 6,676 | $89,297 | $1,110 | 13 mi |
| Solvay | village | 6,544 | $61,166 | $946 | 4 mi |
| Mattydale | CDP | 5,971 | $66,940 | $1,163 | 7 mi |
| Westvale | CDP | 5,212 | $98,542 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Manlius | village | 4,644 | $69,942 | $1,072 | 11 mi |
| Brewerton | CDP | 4,330 | $82,813 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Fayetteville | village | 4,214 | $127,559 | $1,187 | 10 mi |
| Lyncourt | CDP | 4,095 | $65,269 | $1,114 | 6 mi |
| Galeville | CDP | 3,962 | $65,352 | $1,125 | 6 mi |
Debt-to-income at Onondaga County's medians
Onondaga County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,412 gross per month ($76,945 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,108, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,200 a month
- $1,649: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Onondaga County's.
People and households in Onondaga County
39% of Onondaga County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Onondaga County | New York | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.2% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.3% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.0% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 48.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Before borrowing in Onondaga County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Onondaga County borrowers.
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Consolidating cards in Onondaga County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Checklist for Onondaga County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New York borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Onondaga County
Onondaga County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the New York state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Onondaga County
City guides inside Onondaga County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Onondaga County?
$76,945 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $85,974 for New York. It ranks 21st of 62 in the state.
How much is rent in Onondaga County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,108 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Syracuse?
Yes, along with the other 28 Census places in Onondaga County, such as De Witt, Fairmount, Baldwinsville.
Will a Onondaga County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming New York as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Onondaga County?
Start with the New York State Department of Financial Services, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.