Located between Syracuse and Albany in the Mohawk Valley, the Utica-Rome metropolitan area has a population of almost 300,000. The area’s economy has struggled with population loss and sluggish employment growth since the 1990s. Historically, manufacturing accounted for a relatively large share of the local economy, with a particularly high concentration of both primary and fabricated metals production. Manufacturing employment has declined by more than half over the past few decades, though jobs in the health and education sector have offset some of these losses. Leisure and hospitality is also an important industry, with a local casino serving as a major employer in the area.
Economic and Demographic Trends
| Utica | Albany* | Syracuse* | New York State | USA | |
| Population1 | 292,000 | 899,000 | 662,000 | 20,201,000 | 331,449,000 |
| Pop growth, 10-year change1 | -2.4% | 3.3% | -0.1% | 4.2% | 7.4% |
| GDP, billions1 | $13 | $66 | $42 | $1,725 | $20,894 |
| Job growth, 5-year change2 | -5.6% | -4.4% | -5.1% | -4.1% | 1.2% |
| Median household income1 | $56,000 | $72,000 | $63,000 | $72,600 | $67,000 |
| Median home price1 | $140,000 | $210,000 | $150,000 | $350,000 | $250,000 |
| Pop share age 25+ with BA+1 | 26.9% | 41.0% | 32.2% | 39.4% | 35.1% |
