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Town

Ithaca

#4 in Best Places to Live in Tompkins County
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • Town in New York
  • 107 reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A
  2. Crime & Safety
    B-
  3. Housing
    C-
  4. Nightlife
    A+
  5. Good for Families
    A
  6. Diversity
    B+
  7. Jobs
    C+
  8. Weather
    C
  9. Cost of Living
    C-
  10. Health & Fitness
    B+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A
  12. Commute
    A+
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Population
30,625

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$219,100
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$1,029
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    74%
  • Own
    26%

Ithaca Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
B-
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    133
    283
  • Murder
    6
    6
  • Rape
    —
    41
  • Robbery
    61
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    284
    500
  • Theft
    2,544
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    61
    284
Home Security Options for Ithaca
Learn More
  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
B+
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$30,291
National
$55,322
Children
7%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    38%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    25%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    18%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    13%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    6%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges
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Ithaca Reviews

107 reviews
All Categories
Ithaca is beautiful! There are many scenic places to explore from Cayuga Lake, to the numerous waterfalls of the area. It's a place that really stands out in upstate NY because of how different it is. Ithaca has a strong community and with it's two college campuses, is pretty diverse. The colleges bring in students from all over the country and the world which leads to diverse events, people, and perspectives in the town. Ithaca grows on people that visit very quickly and many of them find themselves moving here. I recommend that you check Ithaca out!
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Ithaca is a well known, LGBT friendly town in Central NY. If you're a foodie who lives craft beer and eating local and organic food, you will LOVE local restaurants. On top of great food, Ithaca is rich with art from local artists and music. Come by Ithaca on Porch day and experience a wide range of sounds from local bands all over the Ithaca area! The annual Apple Festival is everyone's favorite as the entire town gathers in the Ithaca Commons for tons of sweet treats and local delicacies. Oh, and have you heard of the phrase "Ithaca is Gorges"? If you haven't, you have yet to discover the handful of beautiful nature trails and gorges hidden in the natural lands of Ithaca NY. Ithaca is a must-see hidden treasure on your travels through NY state.
It seems like Ithaca survives off the college industry, yet I've overheard many townies denounce the students that drive the economy in this small town.
The nightlife isn't great- too many undergraduates roaming the streets for cheap drinks and late nights. Not a great place for foodies either, I have yet to have a meal that I could recommend to someone else. But the access to healthy, local foods and natural wilderness areas is superb!