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Living in Vestal, NY

College town in New York

Vestal is a college town in New York, home to about 30,000 people, with 151,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Vestal a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $242k and rents for $1,410 a month
  • Mild summers: highs around 81°F
  • Strong public schools: test results well above the US average
  • Dog-friendly: 4 dog parks within 9 mi

👎 Cons

  • Cloudier than most places
  • Higher taxes: about $3,080 state income tax per resident, 2.57% property tax
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Vestal ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
30,000
151,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
36°F / 81°F
Average daily highs · 87″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$242k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,410/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
93
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,080
State income tax per resident · 2.57% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
13 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
0
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Excellent
Tests well above US average · 14 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
45%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
SYR
73 mi away

Living in Vestal: common questions

What is the cost of living in Vestal?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $242k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,410 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Vestal?

New York collects about $3,080 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.57% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Vestal safe?

Vestal isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

How are the schools in Vestal?

Public schools in Vestal test well above the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 14 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Vestal?

Vestal has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 36°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 87″ of snow a year.

Does Vestal get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 13 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.33 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Vestal?

The nearest major airport is SYR, about 73 mi away.

How Vestal scores

Each bar compares Vestal with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeSmall town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietQuiet / rural Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundSome transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureNature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateLong, snowy winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingAffordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceSlow & calm Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityFriendly community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingMostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingExcellent
💸Low taxesPoor
💼Job marketPoor
🏥HealthcareBelow average
🏫SchoolsExcellent
🎓EducationAverage
🧸Kids & familyPoor
🐕Dog-friendlyExcellent
⛰️OutdoorsGood
🎭CulturePoor
👮SafetyNo crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disastersGood
☀️SunnyPoor
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportGood

Places like Vestal

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Queensbury, NYSmall city50 $384k$1,740/moNo crime data Henrietta, NYSuburb57 $287k$1,900/moNo crime data Union, NYSmall city45 $157k$1,410/moNo crime data Glenville, NYSmall city58 $282k$2,040/moVery safe Clay, NYSmall city59 $222k$1,690/moNo crime data Millcreek, PASmall city61 $254k$1,500/moNo crime data

Nearby

Union, NYSmall city · 5 mi away45 $157k$1,410/moNo crime data Binghamton, NYSmall city · 7 mi away41 $192k$2,190/moHigher crime Ithaca, NYCollege town · 37 mi away58 $384k$2,100/moVery safe Elmira, NYSmall city · 41 mi away46 $135k$1,370/moNo crime data Scranton, PASmall city · 48 mi away40 $203k$1,630/moHigher crime Wilkes-Barre, PASmall city · 56 mi away41 $183k$1,630/moModerate crime

See all the best places to live in New York.

Is Vestal right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.