Utica, NY
Census place 3676540 · pop 64,217
Known for Utica Club beer and Chicken Riggies, and for welcoming so many refugees it's called 'the city that loves refugees.'
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
27.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
36.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
2.15% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
18.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
3024 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
49.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
537 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$52,484 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
87.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
39.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
22.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
11.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+6.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
72/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,364/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$151,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
27 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Frequently asked
- Is Utica, NY a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Utica scores 42/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is poverty rate. New York overall ranks #48 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Utica, NY?
- Utica reports 537 violent crimes per 100k and 3024 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Utica, NY expensive to live in?
- Utica has a median home value of $151,300 and typical rent around $1,364/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Utica, NY?
- Its weakest measured area is poverty rate (27.5%) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Utica, NY best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (27 AQI) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Known for Utica Club beer and Chicken Riggies, and for welcoming so many refugees it's called 'the city that loves refugees.'
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.