Located in Central New York, the Syracuse metropolitan area is home to more than 650,000 people. Growth in the area has been sluggish for a number of decades, with little increase in population or employment. Like other parts of upstate New York, the Syracuse economy was historically centered on manufacturing, with companies such as Carrier, General Electric, and Lockheed Martin serving as major employers. Though manufacturing remains important to the area, the service sector has emerged as the region’s main source of job creation. In particular, growth in the education and health sector has been a stabilizing force, with the Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University now the area's largest employers.
Economic and Demographic Trends
| Syracuse | Rochester* | Utica* | New York State | USA | |
| Population1 | 662,000 | 1,090,000 | 292,000 | 20,201,000 | 331,449,000 |
| Pop growth, 10-year change1 | -0.1% | 1.0% | -2.4% | 4.2% | 7.4% |
| GDP, billions1 | $42 | $64 | $13 | $1,725 | $20,894 |
| Job growth, 5-year change2 | -5.1% | -5.5% | -5.6% | -4.1% | 1.2% |
| Median household income1 | $63,000 | $60,000 | $56,000 | $72,600 | $67,000 |
| Median home price1 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $140,000 | $350,000 | $250,000 |
| Pop share age 25+ with BA+1 | 32.2% | 34.2% | 26.9% | 39.4% | 35.1% |
