The Quintessential College Town Turned Job Epicenter
Ithaca, New York
New York’s quintessential college town has long minted bright, ambitious graduates. These days, Ithaca is churning out something new: jobs. In the heart of New York’s gorgeous Finger Lakes region, Ithaca is now home to some 100 startups, many of them tech or clean-energy outfits hatched in dorm rooms at Cornell University and Ithaca College, keeping recent grads close and changing a town known more for composting than cutting-edge science. Fortunately, the new tech scene has done nothing to diminish Ithaca’s laid-back lifestyle: the road rides to the 215-foot waterfall at Taughannock State Park; trail runs in Finger Lakes National Forest; or weekend sailing from winery to winery on Cayuga Lake.
My Town: Ian Golden, 38, owner of Finger Lakes Running
After graduating from Ithaca College, I lived in various points west — Hawaii, Washington, Oregon. But my wife, also an Ithaca grad, and I moved back in 2005. It’s pretty ideal at the moment. Our kids’ school is across the street from our house. My shop is a half mile away. A grocery store, theaters, and restaurants are all within walking distance. And miles of singletrack, waterfalls, and swimming holes are literally out our back door. Does Ithaca have its issues, like rising home prices? For sure. But I can’t say there are too many towns that have as much to offer, and it seems like it’s getting better.”
By the numbers:
- Population: 30,016
- Median Home Price: $223,200
- Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
- Cost of Living (relative to U.S. Median): +13%
- Median Income: $29,230
- # of Wineries and Cider Makers on Lake Cayuga: 26
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