Cayuga Heights, New York Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cayuga Heights is a small community located in New York, within Tompkins County. The total population is 4,000. It ranks as the 415th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cayuga Heights is 34.3 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 39.8 years. Only 11.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cayuga Heights is $166,526. This is 94% higher than the state median of $85,974. It is also 106% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.2%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $433,000. Housing costs are 2% higher than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Cayuga Heights is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cayuga Heights is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.9% of the population. Asian residents account for 20.5%. The Black or African American population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.2%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (20.5% vs 9.0%).

Education

81.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Cayuga Heights in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 102% higher than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.7%. Notably, 63.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cayuga Heights, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.