Skaneateles, N.Y, 1884
Skaneateles’s story
222 years in pictures
Census counts: 3,812 in 1830, 7,112 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1823 and 4 maps from 1899 on.
- 1804Skaneateles is settled
Village of SkaneatelesNY
Photo: The original uploader was Phmalo at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5
Population
2,503
2025 Census estimate · −1.7% since 2020
Median home value
$647K
Census ACS
Household income
$126K
median
Median age
57.9
years
Jobs based here
1,390
Balanced
TownGrade
A+
#7 of 745 in NY
Why does Skaneateles grade so well?
Skaneateles is one of the best-graded places in America: an A+, 7th among New York's 745 graded towns. The median household earns $126K, its schools outperform 86% of the state's, and residents are healthier than 86% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its lowest mark, a C, is in cost of living. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 97% of U.S. towns. 75% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Skaneateles, against 32% in New York’s towns and 29% across U.S. towns. Skaneateles is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 96% of U.S. towns. Only 5 of the 758 New York towns we compare have a higher median age than Skaneateles.
What makes Skaneateles stand out
Where Skaneateles beats most towns.
0historic places
HistoryA+
Settled in 1804
A long history
A history going back 222 years.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
9.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
How Skaneateles grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Skaneateles is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.3 of 20; 11.9% of households have no carA+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 9% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →SchoolsAOpen →HealthAuburn Community Hospital 6.8 miles awayAOpen →SafetyA−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $647K, 8.6 years of the Syracuse metro’s $75K median household incomeCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 4% conserved landA−Open →History8 notable people born hereA+Open →Civic life7.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 44 attractions →JMA Wireless Dome and 29 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Skaneateles. Close and well known come first.
16 mi Stadium & arenaJMA Wireless Dome
31 mi LakeSeneca Lake
23 mi LakeCayuga Lake
15 mi LakeOnondaga Lake
29 mi State parkTaughannock Falls State Park
16 mi Stadium & arenaOncenter War Memorial ArenaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
JMA Wireless Dome: Jimhoward03, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Seneca Lake: RochesterNY, Public domain · Cayuga Lake: The original uploader was Cornellrockey at English Wikipedia. Later versions we, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Onondaga Lake: R. A. Nonenmacher, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Taughannock Falls State Park: Michael C. Rygel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Oncenter War Memorial Arena: Crazyale, Public domain
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Skaneateles: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Skaneateles, and how to reach them.
PowerVillage of SkaneatelesEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterSkaneateles Wds water system5 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offSkaneateles Transfer Station, 3 miOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereOnondaga County Board of ElectionsOnondaga County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code1315213152 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Skaneateles.
Skaneateles gets more snow than nearly all U.S. towns and is safe by national standards but not by New York’s; it also has homes that cost more against local pay than most of New York.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Skaneateles
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 91% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Skaneateles.
9risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingStrong windTornadoes
4
paid flood claims since 1978
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA
A smaller share of adults in Skaneateles sleep under 7 hours than in the typical New York or U.S. town
Against the 4,993 U.S. towns with household incomes like Skaneateles’s, it is healthier than 63%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
31% of Skaneateles adults sleep under 7 hours. Skaneateles beats the New York average on 18 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 8.9% of Skaneateles adults smoke cigarettes.
86%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Skaneateles | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 37% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 32% | 33% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 8.9% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. New York
18 better8 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Skaneateles | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.5% | 17.2% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 3.5% | 7.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.1% | 7.7% |
Auburn Community Hospital
6.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
74th
percentile among NY towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyA−
Crime per resident in Skaneateles is lower than in 84% of U.S. towns
At 7.3 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 71% of New York’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
The property crime rate in Skaneateles is 5.1 per 1,000 residents.
84%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Skaneateles | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.1 per 1,000 residents | 7.6 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Skaneateles0.8
New York3.7
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Skaneateles5.1
New York15.7
U.S.15.5
84th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
71st
percentile among NY towns
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
13
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Skaneateles has snowy winters and pleasant summers
The Skaneateles weather station records that 106 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, more than in 97% of U.S. towns.
Skaneateles has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Skaneateles’ July high is 80°F.
106″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–33°
Spring35–54°
Summer58–78°
Fall41–59°
Oct 18
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Skaneateles has 1.3 jobs for every working resident, and 1,296 people commute in
The average commute for its 1,034 working residents takes 21 minutes, against 32.6 across New York. 26.1% of workers work from home, against 14.9% across New York.
Most working residents leave Skaneateles for work: only 9% work in town. 26% of workers work from home in Skaneateles. Jobs based in Skaneateles grew to 1,390 in 2023, 158 more than in 2013.
9%work in town
| Skaneateles | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 26% | 12% | 11% |
| Median household income | $126,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Skaneateles9%
Syracuse18%
Skaneateles18%
Auburn6%
DeWitt5%
16 mi
median commute distance
1,390
jobs based in Skaneateles
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsA−
Skaneateles has set aside 4.3% of its land for conservation
0.7 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Austin Park, at 38 acres.
4.3%conserved
| Skaneateles | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 4.3% | 5.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
4.3%
conserved · 48 of 1,108 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Austin Park | 0.6 mi | 38 |
| 2. Shotwell Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C
The median home in Skaneateles sells for about $950K
At 8.6 years of the Syracuse metro’s $75K median household income, the typical home costs more against local pay than in 91% of New York towns; that ratio is one input to its C for cost of living.
$950Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Skaneateles
20pages on Skaneateles
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Skaneateles
Cayuga County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Auburn5.8 mi$7,056 in-state tuitionOnondaga Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Syracuse12.4 mi$6,102 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Skaneateles residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.
Famous people from Skaneateles
8 notable people were born in Skaneateles.
About Skaneateles
Town in New York, United States
Skaneateles ( SKAN-ee-AT-ləs, locally SKIN-) is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 7,112. The name is from the Iroquois term for the adjacent Skaneateles Lake, which means 'long lake'. The town is on the western border of the county and includes a village, also named Skaneateles. Both the town and village are southwest of Syracuse. The town – including the four hamlets of Mottville, Skaneateles Falls, Mandana and Shepard Settlement – are governed by the Town of Skaneateles Board. For many years, the Town Board would take their recurring monthly meetings "on the road" to the surrounding hamlets. On the 23rd of June 2014, the hamlet m…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 49 sq mi
- Elevation
- 873 ft
- ZIP code
- 13152
- Area code
- 315
Questions about Skaneateles
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Skaneateles, NY a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Skaneateles grades A+ overall, among the top 2% of U.S. towns and #7 of 745 in New York. It grades A for health, A− for safety and A for schools.
Is Skaneateles, NY expensive?
The typical home is worth about $647,000, 23% above the New York typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
What is Skaneateles, NY known for?
8 notable people were born here, including Neilia Hunter and Morton S. Wilkinson.