Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Ithaca, NY Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

32,814

Median Agei

23.3

Race & Ethnicityi

White

62.6%20,549

Asian

16.5%5,423

Hispanic/Latino

8.8%2,888

Black

5.4%1,773

Two or More

4.3%1,408

Other

2%668

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%85

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%20

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.4%507

High School Diploma

6.1%914

Some College (<1 yr)

4.1%618

Some College (1+ yr)

7%1,056

Associate's Degree

6.3%943

Bachelor's Degree

24%3,604

Master's Degree

25%3,765

Professional Degree

4.4%667

Doctorate

14.2%2,138

HS or Higher

94.5%

BA or Higher

67.7%

Graduate+

43.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$342,700

Median Renti

$1,447

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

29.6%4,196

Renter-Occupied

70.4%9,971

Total Units

16,183

Homeownership

29.6%

Vacancy Rate

12.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

4.3%179

$50K–$100K

1.6%67

$100K–$150K

8.1%340

$150K–$200K

4.8%201

$200K–$300K

17.6%740

$300K–$500K

51.2%2,147

$500K–$1M

10.8%455

$1M+

1.6%67

Rent Distribution

Under $500

414

$500–$750

302

$750–$1,000

1,369

$1,000–$1,250

1,331

$1,250–$1,500

1,772

$1,500–$2,000

2,036

$2,000+

2,394

Year Built

2020 or later

1.6%265

2010–2019

9.1%1,469

2000–2009

4.9%799

1990–1999

9.3%1,508

1980–1989

9.7%1,562

1970–1979

7.1%1,151

1960–1969

5.9%955

1950–1959

6.4%1,031

1940–1949

2.5%412

1939 or earlier

43.4%7,031

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

62.4%8,843

Electricity

30.2%4,276

Bottled/LP Gas

3.5%501

Fuel Oil

2.1%297

Other

0.8%112

No Fuel

0.5%64

Wood

0.4%56

Solar

0.1%18

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$48,784

Mean Household Incomei

$79,022

Per Capita Incomei

$31,599

Poverty Ratei

22.7%

Unemploymenti

7.3%

Labor Forcei

16,145

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

16.1%2,281

$10K–$15K

5%708

$15K–$20K

2.7%381

$20K–$25K

2.5%357

$25K–$30K

6%854

$30K–$35K

3.3%474

$35K–$40K

3.8%541

$40K–$45K

6.3%888

$45K–$50K

5.7%813

$50K–$60K

4.9%697

$60K–$75K

7%996

$75K–$100K

10.5%1,481

$100K–$125K

6.9%984

$125K–$150K

2.9%415

$150K–$200K

5.9%842

$200K+

10.3%1,455

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,093

Residentsi

1,654

Avg. Tenant Renti

$468/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

25 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing235 homes83% occupied$438/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers858 homes89% occupied$476/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $48,784/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $15K/yr

80.6%

Very low income$15K–$24K/yr

14.8%

Low income$24K–$39K/yr

3.6%

Moderate / aboveOver $39K/yr

Who Receives This Housing

65.6% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

44.5% of subsidized households are minority

36.9% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

36.5% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

6,57820%

By Region

Top Countries

China

1,180

India

884

Canada

440

Korea

386

United Kingdom

170

Germany

113

Mexico

Philippines

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

14,653

Avg. Commutei

18.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

14,961

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

562(1.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.9%Insured

5.1%Uninsured