Introduction

Our homes, and the neighborhood communities we reside within, can give us safety and comfort. They are the places where we can connect with friends, neighbors and loved ones. They can create and nurture a sense of belonging.

Housing Icon

The Central New York region is rich with history, dating back to a population boom during the industrial revolution. But along with that comes an aging housing stock that in many ways provides substandard living conditions for today’s residents. In Syracuse, 47 percent of the current housing stock was constructed in 1939 or earlier. Of the 55,305 households within the city, 24 percent suffer from at least one severe housing problem such as a lack of complete kitchen or plumbing facilities.

Lead paint was banned in 1978, but more than 90 percent of occupied homes in the city of Syracuse were built before that regulation was enacted. As a result, the Onondaga County Health Department reports that 9 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2020 were shown to have elevated lead levels.

Central New York boasts an affordable cost of living relative to other parts of the country, but home prices have risen in recent years and there are great disparities in terms of who in our community can afford to own a home.  While home ownership is not necessarily for everyone, it can instill a sense of pride, which critically impacts the quality of life in our neighborhoods — including our health, security, education and progress as a community.

As we examine our indicators and think about the future growth and development of our region, it is imperative that we consider the availability of safe, affordable housing in both our urban and rural communities.

Home Ownership

Housing Tenure Over Time - Onondaga County

Housing Tenure Over Time - Madison County

Housing Tenure Over Time - Oswego County

Housing Tenure Over Time - Cayuga County

Housing Tenure Over Time - Cortland County

Housing Tenure Over Time - Syracuse

Housing Tenure Over Time - Oneida

Housing Tenure Over Time - Oswego City

Housing Tenure Over Time - Auburn

Housing Tenure Over Time - Cortland City

Let's Break It Down

In the region’s urban centers, renters often outnumber homeowners.

However, in all five counties of the Central New York region, homeowners significantly outnumber renters. For example, in Onondaga County there were approximately 120,000 owner-occupied units and 65,000 renter-occupied units in 2019. Data from the region’s cities look very different, where there are often more renters than homeowners. In Syracuse, renter-occupied units outnumbered owner-occupied units by more than 12,000.

In Central New York, areas with the highest rates of renters also have the lowest median incomes. Conversely, areas with higher median incomes had higher rates of homeownership. Housing values also vary widely. In Onondaga County, suburban communities like Fayetteville, Manlius, Liverpool and Marcellus had median housing values between about $137,000 and $204,000 in 2019. The median home values in the cities of Syracuse and Auburn were about $94,000 and $102,000, respectively.

Why Does It Matter?

Homeownership is low in CNY cities.

Communities with higher rates of homeownership are more likely to thrive. Owning a home allows people to build wealth, take out loans for higher education, benefit from tax deductions and enjoy a sense of community. Neighborhoods with higher rates of homeownership also have increased property values, meaning more money is available for schools, infrastructure and public services.

Most Americans build wealth through homeownership. According to Market Watch, in 2016 the median net worth of an American homeowner was $231,400, while a renter’s was $5,200.

While homeownership is not necessarily for everyone, it can instill a sense of pride, which encourages area beautification, neighborhood watch programs and decreased resident turnover. All of these factors can critically impact the quality of life in our communities, including our health, security and education.

Many residents of our local cities cannot afford to become homeowners and reside in rental housing or shelters. Affordable rentals can be difficult to secure, in part because landlords often will not rent to tenants who rely on rental assistance. One report notes that in Syracuse only about 11 percent of the city’s 61,392 occupied housing units are affordable. In addition, there are racial disparities in which racial and ethnic minorities face lower rates of homeownership and higher housing cost burdens.

Some of the most impoverished areas of Syracuse today reflect redlined districts resulting from the National Housing Act of 1934, which led to a large increase in residential racial segregation and urban decay in US cities. “Residential security maps” created out of the Act for the purpose of identifying areas desirable for real estate lending, deemed certain neighborhoods too financially risky to invest home loans in – in large part due to their racial or ethnic makeup. This allowed poverty, especially that of minority populations, to persist. While redlining is no longer considered a lawful practice under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the effects of these deeply rooted inequalities continue to live on.

Homeownership is low in CNY cities.

A Local Story

Ensuring a Safe & Secure Home

When Pearl Baldwin purchased her house in Syracuse, she looked forward to a safe, comfortable place to live with her grandson. She never imagined that her new home could pose a risk to their lives.

On the surface, the house appeared normal; however, over time, Pearl began to uncover dangerous features, causing her great concern.

During the cold months, her roof leaked onto the sidewalk causing a slippery walkway. The foundation began to deteriorate, allowing rodents to come into her home. Pearl tried her best to keep everything protected and clean for the safety of her 13-year-old grandson, but realized she was spending a lot of time, money and energy trying to make repairs.

Nearly six million households live with moderate to severe home health and safety hazards, which place them at risk for illness and injuries including asthma, lead poisoning, slips and falls, and respiratory illnesses. An unhealthy home can affect many aspects of a person’s life, leading to health care needs, absentee work days and children missing school. 

Pearl’s wishes for a safe home came true when she learned about the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative Greater Syracuse (GHHIGS), a collaborative effort that helps to improve the health, safety and energy efficiency of low- and moderate-income homes in the City of Syracuse. The hazardous condition of Pearl’s home made her a suitable candidate to receive assistance.

GHHIGS community partners worked to completely replace and properly seal the foundation and siding on her house, ensuring no unwanted animals could enter. Workers also installed a new roof and protected power lines to eliminate any faulty or dangerous wires. Pearl’s home also received new storm doors.

“All the long hours I worked trying to fix up my home and make ends meet was taking away from the time I had to spend with my grandson,” Pearl said. “I felt like my prayers were answered when I found out about Green and Healthy Homes because now I can spend more time at home with my family, and feel safe doing so.”

What You Can Do

Give input and get involved.

Whether you’re an experienced volunteer, an activist, a student, working professional, or a stay-at-home parent, there are roles both big and small that you can play to shape the future of the region.

See Additional Opportunities View All
Volunteer
Revitalize neighborhoods with Home HeadQuarters Learn More »
Donate
Help sustain renter’s rights through CNY Fair Housing Learn More »
Take Action
Join a community action group Learn More »
Civic Engagement
Join a board Learn More »

Vacancies

Occupancy Status - Onondaga County

Occupancy Status - Madison County

Occupancy Status - Oswego County

Occupancy Status - Cayuga County

Occupancy Status - Cortland County

Occupancy Status - Syracuse

Occupancy Status - Oneida

Occupancy Status - Oswego City

Occupancy Status - Auburn

Occupancy Status - Cortland City

Let's Break It Down

More than half of Onondaga County’s vacant homes are in Syracuse.

While occupancy status has remained relatively constant in Central New York over the past decade, there has been a small but steady increase in the number of vacant units in all five counties. “Vacant units” are defined as unoccupied homes with an owner, whereas “abandoned units” are homes with no resident or owner. The most populated municipalities hold the greatest number of vacancies in each county. During 2019 in Onondaga County, there were a total of 23,052 vacant units; 12,537 of them were within the city of Syracuse.

Vacant properties become a greater issue as population decreases. In 1950, approximately 220,000 people lived in the city of Syracuse. Today, the 2020 Census estimates that there are 148,620 people living in Syracuse. The city’s population has seen some growth in recent years, but the population is still much lower than it was in 1950. In contrast, all five counties in Central New York experienced growth in population numbers during that period, as people moved to suburbs and towns outside cities. For example, Onondaga County’s population grew from 341,719 to 476,516 between 1950 and 2020.

Cornell University’s Program on Applied Demographics projects population declines in all five counties over the next few decades, which opens our region up to an increased risk of home vacancies. The 2020 Census data confirm that Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, and Oswego Counties are experiencing a decline in population, however Onondaga County’s population has increased over the past decade, defying projections.

Why Does It Matter?

Housing vacancies lead to neighborhood blight and disinvestment.

Stable, sufficient housing can lower crime within a neighborhood. On the other hand, a lack of safe, reliable, and efficient housing can have the opposite effect on a neighborhood or community, causing neighborhoods to deteriorate as residents leave for other areas and businesses to decline or exit.

Vacant and abandoned properties can lead to higher crime rates, sharply decreasing property values and increasing municipal costs according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Vacant properties also pose health risks; for example, many deteriorating older homes cause lead paint to enter the surrounding soil.

Vacant residential and commercial properties tend to portray a community suffering economically, thus leading to community disinvestment. Disinvestment furthers flight to the suburbs and population decreases in urban centers. The economic recession of 2008, along with the loss of industries and population in rust belt regions like Central New York, have led to an increase in vacant properties in our region, especially Syracuse, over the past fifty years. This can only negatively affect the quality of life for residents who have stayed behind in these neighborhoods.

According to the United States Census, in 2019 Syracuse ranked 20 out of the largest 75 metropolitan statistical areas in the country for gross vacancy with a rate of 10.4 percent. Local strides have been made in recent years to help reduce the negative effects of vacant housing. Organizations such as the Greater Syracuse Land Bank, launched in 2012, return vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties back to productive use, helping strengthen the local economy and reinvest in our urban core.

Housing vacancies lead to neighborhood blight and disinvestment.

A Local Story

Greater Syracuse Land Bank

With the extensive aging of Syracuse’s housing stock, many properties have fallen into a state of disrepair. Chipping paint and faulty piping can cause lead poisoning, and wall cavities may contain a host of unwanted guests. However, the City of Syracuse has enlisted the help of the Greater Syracuse Land Bank (Land Bank) to turn old, rugged houses into safe forever homes for its residents.

“The vast majority of what we do is we get control of these hazardous properties,” Katelyn Wright said, executive director of the Land Bank. “Then we try to get them into the hands of somebody that’s going to do the right thing with them.”

The Land Bank buys, renovates and sells the properties to Syracuse residents, the vast majority of them planning to live in the homes themselves. In an effort to encourage current residents living in dangerous conditions to purchase these safe homes, the Land Bank offers a number of discount programs for buyers to ensure the homes are affordable.

“Most of [them] are just regular people who’ve maybe only ever bought one or two properties from the Land Bank, and they’re just making an investment in their community,” Wright said.

The Land Bank’s efforts have ensured the safety and security of the houses they sell to the new homeowners. While most of the homes are older, and initially have lead safety issues due to chipping paint, the Land Bank’s remediation and renovation processes remove or cover paint with the highest degree of quality and safety. The organization uses qualified developers to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards.

The Land Bank partners with Home HeadQuarters and Jubilee Homes to assist buyers, many of whom are first-time homeowners, with the purchase process.

“So it’s exciting that we finally have a way to address the needs of these homes because we didn’t for so many years,” Wright said. “We’re just continuing to apply for more grant funds and chipping away at the list of contaminated sites.”

The Land Bank hopes that the well-planned redevelopment of properties will increase surrounding property values, improve quality of life for surrounding residents, and stabilize the tax base making it easier for local governments to provide essential services.

"It's exciting that we finally have a way to address the needs of these homes because we didn't for so many years,” Wright said. “We're just continuing to apply for more grant funds and chipping away at the list of contaminated sites.”

What You Can Do

Give input and get involved.

Whether you’re an experienced volunteer, an activist, a student, working professional, or a stay-at-home parent, there are roles both big and small that you can play to shape the future of the region.

See Additional Opportunities View All
Volunteer
Help build or renovate houses through Habitat for Humanity Learn More »
Donate
Provide funding for housing renovations made by Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility Learn More »
Take Action
Join a community action group Learn More »
Civic Engagement
Join a board Learn More »