Oswego 75 Excellent
Oswego Livability #265 ranked city in New York#4,189 ranked city in the USARanks better than 85% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Pros and Cons of Living in Oswego

PROS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A wealth of amenities, such as restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks and fitness facilities, are all conveniently located within walking distance.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Crime Crime

    This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.

What's it like Living in Oswego?

Located in the state of New York, Oswego is a mid-sized city with a population of 17,822 inhabitants. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (92% White). Given that fact, Oswego could be considered less diverse than other cities. Oswego is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 46%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Oswego. With an average one way commute time of only 17 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Oswego could be a positive experience compared to other cities in New York if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, crime, commute, education, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Oswego and in the areas around Oswego is a much easier task.

Oswego has a livability score of 74/100 and is ranked #243 in New York and #4,006 in the USA. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Oswego has higher than average scores for the following: amenities (B+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Oswego does not have favorable scores for the following: crime (F) and employment (D-). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in Oswego, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in Oswego undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Oswego has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Oswego meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Oswego. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Oswego are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Oswego come in at $165,522, which is 67.1% lower than the New York average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Oswego, the home price to income ratio is 2.4, which is 57.1% lower than the New York average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Oswego

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Compare Oswego, NY Livability

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      Oswego transportation information

      Statistic Oswego New York National
      Average one way commute17min33min26min
      Workers who drive to work72.6%53.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.0%6.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.2%28.0%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.7%0.6%
      Workers who walk8.8%6.3%2.8%
      Working from home5.9%4.0%4.6%
      Source: The Oswego, NY data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.