Ithaca, New York

If you’ve heard of Ithaca, chances are it’s because of the two big schools: Ithaca College and Ivy League giant Cornell University. If you think this means raucous nights filled with rowdy collegians running around town with fake IDs, then you are mistaken.

This is an extremely family-friendly place and one of the most beautiful spots in the northeast. People take advantage of the tree-lined streets, with more than 40% living in town and walking to work, passing great restaurants and shops along the way. Located right off of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is also a perfect place for a hike or jog, notable for the more than 150 waterfalls in and around the city.

Living in Ithaca is expensive. As is the winter coat you’ll need if you don’t have a good one. Many people working in town commute from outside due to housing and food prices. Most who live in town are educated, liberal, affluent, and opinionated. If that’s not your scene, it might be difficult to make this your home.

In town, East Hill is a family-friendly neighborhood close to great public schools, and a big shopping center, and is only a 15-minute walk to Cornell if you’re moving into town to work at the school.

Cayuga Heights is a quiet residential neighborhood just outside campus, filled with larger and more expensive homes. Collegetown is, surprise surprise, primarily made up of college apartments filled with Cornell undergrads. South Hill is the neighborhood most Ithaca College folks live.

Lansing is less expensive than the neighborhoods near Cornell. It's on the border of the city and is close to a lot of shopping malls, grocery stores, and good public schools. A solid choice for families looking to live in the city but with a smaller price tag.

We highly recommend visiting Ithaca and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

If you want to know what the locals do for fun and culture check out the calendar of events.

Ithaca is named for the city Odysseus seeks to get back to in The Odyssey.

You might find that this is the end of your home search odyssey as well. Anyone looking for a ridiculously walk-friendly city, with one of the best educational systems in the country, you can do no better than Ithaca.