Cayuga County, NY

County

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2024 Population

75,102

US Senator

Chuck Schumer

Democratic Party

US Senator

Kirsten Gillibrand

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

43.8

0.229% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

13.5%

1.88% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$67,904

1.98% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$171,000

4.14% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

34,839

1.2% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Cayuga County, NY reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

98.8% of the residents in Cayuga County, NY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Cayuga County, NY are Cayuga County Community College (250 degrees awarded in 2023), Wells College (65 degrees), and Cayuga Onondaga BOCES-Practical Nursing Program (23 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Cayuga County, NY was $171,000, and the homeownership rate was 71.4%.

Most people in Cayuga County, NY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Cayuga County, NY was 2 cars per household.

Cayuga County, NY borders Cortland County, NY, Jefferson County, NY, Onondaga County, NY, Oswego County, NY, Seneca County, NY, Tompkins County, NY, and Wayne County, NY.

About the photo: Cayuga Lake, the longest of central New York's glacial Finger Lakes.

Photo by eflon

United States New York Auburn, NY

Population & Diversity

Cayuga County, NY is home to a population of 75.1k people, from which 98.8% are citizens. As of 2024, 2.59% of Cayuga County, NY residents were born outside of the country (1.94k people).

In 2024, there were 26.3 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (65.3k people) in Cayuga County, NY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.49k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.06k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.8%

2024 Citizenship

99.1%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 98.8% of Cayuga County, NY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Cayuga County, NY was 99.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Cayuga County, NY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Cayuga County, NY

White (Non-Hispanic)
65.3k ± 463
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
2.49k ± 274
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
2.06k ± 283

3.64%

Hispanic Population

2.73k people

3.64% of the people in Cayuga County, NY are hispanic (2.73k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Cayuga County, NY as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for New York.

Most Common Origin

Dominican Republic
493,200 ± 17,027 people
China
410,969 ± 15,575 people
Jamaica
234,174 ± 11,811 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of New York was Dominican Republic, the natal country of 493,200 New York residents, followed by China with 410,969 and Jamaica with 234,174.

Foreign-Born Population

2.59%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

1.94k people

2.18%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

1.65k people

As of 2024, 2.59% of Cayuga County, NY residents (1.94k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Cayuga County, NY was 2.18%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Cayuga County, NY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,604 ± 222
Gulf War (2001-)
722 ± 128
Gulf War (1990s)
390 ± 94

Cayuga County, NY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.22 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Cayuga County, NY.

Economy

The economy of Cayuga County, NY employs 34.8k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Cayuga County, NY were Health Care & Social Assistance (5,470 people), Manufacturing (4,534 people), and Educational Services (4,293 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($78,194), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($76,250), and Public Administration ($73,953).

Employment

Occupations

34.8k

2024 Value

± 1,170

−1.2%

1 Year decline

± 4.81%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Cayuga County, NY declined at a rate of −1.2%, from 35.3k employees to 34.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Cayuga County, NY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,732 people), Management Occupations (3,253 people), and Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (3,021 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Cayuga County, NY.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New York.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in New York (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

34.8k

2024 Value

± 1,170

−1.2%

1 Year decline

± 4.81%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Cayuga County, NY declined at a rate of −1.2%, from 35.3k employees to 34.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Cayuga County, NY, are Health Care & Social Assistance (5,470 people), Manufacturing (4,534 people), and Educational Services (4,293 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Cayuga County, NY, though some of these residents may live in Cayuga County, NY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$53,858

Median earning men ± $1,875

$39,676

Median earning women ± $1,510

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($79,358), Manufacturing ($65,962), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($64,423).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Information ($80,326), Public Administration ($62,083), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($55,568).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for New York.

Y-Axis

2.74%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 9.56M people employed in New York. This represents a 2.74% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 19.7%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in New York.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

149
Construction
125
Other Services (except Public Administration)
88
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$191k
Manufacturing
$184k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$113k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Education

In 2023, universities in Cayuga County, NY awarded 338 degrees. The student population of Cayuga County, NY in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1,597 male students and 2,247 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Cayuga County, NY are White (270 and 80.1%), Unknown (21 and 6.23%), Hispanic or Latino (19 and 5.64%), and Black or African American (17 and 5.04%).

The largest universities in Cayuga County, NY by number of degrees awarded are Cayuga County Community College (250 and 74%), Wells College (65 and 19.2%), and Cayuga Onondaga BOCES-Practical Nursing Program (23 and 6.8%).

The most popular majors in Cayuga County, NY are Humanistic Studies (80 and 23.7%), General Business Administration & Management (43 and 12.7%), and Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (23 and 6.8%).

The median tuition cost in Cayuga County, NY for private four year colleges is $33,666.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Cayuga County, NY, the percentage of applicants admitted was 69.3%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 12.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 3,844 (41.5% men and 58.5% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 3,844 students enrolled in Cayuga County, NY, 41.5% men and 58.5% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,836 records, of which 60.6% were women and 39.4% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Humanistic Studies
80 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
37 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
20 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Cayuga County, NY was Humanistic Studies with 80 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Cayuga County, NY according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Cayuga County Community College
250 degrees awarded
Wells College
65 degrees awarded
Cayuga Onondaga BOCES-Practical Nursing Program
23 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Cayuga County Community College with 250 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 121 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Cayuga County, NY, which is 0.558 times less than the 217 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 270 degrees mean that there were 12.9 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Unknown, with 21 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($33,666) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,500) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,250) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Cayuga County, NY was $171,000 in 2024, which is 0.514 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $164,200 to $171,000, a 4.14% increase. The homeownership rate in Cayuga County, NY is 71.4%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Cayuga County, NY have an average commute time of 22.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Cayuga County, NY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 12.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Cayuga County, NY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.465%.

Housing

Property

$171,000

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,760

$22,518

Median Property Taxes

±$772

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Cayuga County, NY the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Cayuga County, NY compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

71.4%

Homeownership

2024

60.2%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 71.4% of the housing units in Cayuga County, NY were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 71.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Cayuga County, NY compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$67,904

Median Household Income

± $2,566

31.5k

Number of Households

± 1,151

In 2024, the median household income of the 31.5k households in Cayuga County, NY grew to $67,904 from the previous year's value of $66,583.

The following chart displays the households in Cayuga County, NY distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Cayuga County, NY is from New York.

0.493

2023 Wage GINI in New York

0.494

2022 Wage GINI in New York

In 2023, the income inequality in New York was 0.493 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0797% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for New York was higher than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in New York in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in New York across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (78.8%)
Carpooled (8.07%)
Worked At Home (7.75%)

In 2024, 78.8% of workers in Cayuga County, NY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (8.07%) and those who worked at home (7.75%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

22.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Cayuga County, NY have a shorter commute time (22.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.67% of the workforce in Cayuga County, NY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Cayuga County, NY compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Cayuga County, NY distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Cayuga County, NY have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 12.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Cayuga County, NY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.465%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

13.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Cayuga County, NY (9.69k out of 71.7k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Males 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Cayuga County, NY is White, followed by Two Or More and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 17.7% of the children was living in poverty in Cayuga County, NY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.6%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 241 in Cayuga County, NY. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 22.3 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

95.5% of the population of Cayuga County, NY has health coverage, with 43.9% on employee plans, 22.6% on Medicaid, 15.5% on Medicare, 12.3% on non-group plans, and 1.19% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Cayuga County, NY see 3,449 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (3,449 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2344 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 454 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.9% were men and 50.1% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

3,449 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Cayuga County, NY

Primary care physicians in Cayuga County, NY see an average of 3,449 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (3,449 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Cayuga County, NY in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 21% under 18 years, 18.4% between 18 and 34 years, 39.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 21.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.9% were men and 50.1% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.51%

Uninsured

43.9%

Employer Coverage

22.6%

Medicaid

15.5%

Medicare

12.3%

Non-Group

1.19%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Cayuga County, NY grew by 2.95% from 4.38% to 4.51%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Cayuga County, NY changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 44.6 in Cayuga County, NY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Cayuga County, NY.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 41% in Cayuga County, NY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Cayuga County, NY.