Auburn vs Ithaca
Auburn, New York versus Ithaca, New York: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Auburn edges out Ithaca on overall objective livability (44 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Auburn | Ithaca |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $48k | $45k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $63k |
| Home Value | $138k | $324k |
| Monthly Rent | $844 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.96% | 2.58% |
| Income Tax | 10.90% | 10.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.53% | 8.53% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 22.18% | 32.09% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | 5.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 23°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 68°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.3 in | 38.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 109.4 in | 62.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 203 days | 203 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 86 days | 76 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 31.7 | 50.0 |
| Air Quality | 42 AQI | 43 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 3098/100k | 1507/100k |
| Property Crime | 2145/100k | 3772/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 26,674 | 31,359 |
| Median Age | 40.3 | 22.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.30 | 0.52 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.01 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+50 |
| White (%) | 80.8% | 63.9% |
| Black (%) | 7.2% | 4.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.3% | 8.0% |
| Asian (%) | 1.1% | 15.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 6.6% | 7.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 13.5/20 | 10.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 57 mi | 76 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 84.9% | 85.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 13.87 | 73.66 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Auburn or Ithaca more affordable?
- Auburn has the lower cost of living: its index is $49k, compared with Auburn's $49k and Ithaca's $63k. Median rent is $844 in Auburn versus $1k in Ithaca.
- Is Auburn or Ithaca safer?
- Ithaca has the lower violent crime rate. Auburn reports 3098/100k and Ithaca reports 1507/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Auburn or Ithaca?
- The median home value is $138k in Auburn and $324k in Ithaca, so homes are more affordable in Auburn.