Binghamton vs Ithaca
Binghamton, 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.
Binghamton edges out Ithaca on overall objective livability (44 vs 39 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Binghamton | Ithaca |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $42k | $45k |
| Cost of Living | $48k | $63k |
| Home Value | $117k | $324k |
| Monthly Rent | $805 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.99% | 2.58% |
| Income Tax | 10.90% | 10.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.53% | 8.53% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 22.08% | 32.09% |
| Unemployment | 10.1% | 5.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 23°F | 23°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 68°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1 in | 38.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 86.5 in | 62.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 197 days | 203 days |
| Summer Humidity | 59°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 82 days | 76 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 12.9 | 50.0 |
| Air Quality | 37 AQI | 43 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 2234/100k | 1507/100k |
| Property Crime | 3709/100k | 3772/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 47,617 | 31,359 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 22.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.50 | 0.52 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.93 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+50 |
| White (%) | 66.2% | 63.9% |
| Black (%) | 12.9% | 4.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 9.2% | 8.0% |
| Asian (%) | 5.3% | 15.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 6.4% | 7.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 9.8/20 | 10.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 114 mi | 76 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 83.1% | 85.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 41.58 | 73.66 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | 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 Binghamton or Ithaca more affordable?
- Binghamton has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Binghamton's $48k and Ithaca's $63k. Median rent is $805 in Binghamton versus $1k in Ithaca.
- Is Binghamton or Ithaca safer?
- Ithaca has the lower violent crime rate. Binghamton reports 2234/100k and Ithaca reports 1507/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Binghamton or Ithaca?
- The median home value is $117k in Binghamton and $324k in Ithaca, so homes are more affordable in Binghamton.