Ithaca, NY Reviews


32 Reviews



BestPlaces offers the best, most comprehensive city reports,
with insight into cost of living, crime, climate, and more.
What BestPlaces Users Say about Ithaca

Ithaca, New York is a picturesque city located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, the city has a vibrant and diverse community. With a population of around 31,000, Ithaca offers a small-town feel with big-city amenities. However, like any other place, living in Ithaca has its own pros and cons. In this summary, we will take a look at what the residents of Ithaca have to say about their experience living in this unique city.

From the many user reviews on BestPlaces.net, it is clear that Ithaca has a lot to offer to its residents. According to Janet, "Ithaca is a beautiful city with a strong community spirit. The natural surroundings and outdoor activities make it a perfect place to live for nature lovers." Similarly, Steve mentions, "The quality of life in Ithaca is unbeatable. The city has a strong sense of community and there is always something to do, whether it's hiking in the gorges or attending a local festival." These reviews highlight the natural beauty and community spirit that are some of the key features of Ithaca.

However, some reviewers also point out the high cost of living in Ithaca. As Sharon puts it, "Living in Ithaca can be expensive, especially for students and young professionals. The housing market is competitive and the cost of living is higher compared to other cities in the region." Another user, John, echoes this sentiment by saying, "Ithaca is a great place to live, but it can be quite expensive. Be prepared to pay a premium for housing and other basic necessities." These reviews serve as a reminder that while Ithaca may have a lot to offer, it comes at a price.

In terms of the job market, opinions vary among the reviewers. While some, like Emily, have found success in their careers in Ithaca, stating "I have a great job in Ithaca and I am happy with my career growth here," others have a different experience. As Matthew puts it, "The job market in Ithaca is limited and it can be difficult to find a good-paying job. Many people have to commute to neighboring cities for work." These reviews highlight the mixed opinions about the job market in Ithaca.

Overall, the user reviews about living in Ithaca paint a positive picture of the city, with its scenic beauty, sense of community, and quality of life being highly praised. However, the high cost of living and limited job market are factors to consider for those looking to move to Ithaca. As with any place, it ultimately comes down to individual preferences and priorities.

 based on 32 Reviews
Get to know Ithaca with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Ithaca

All-Around Great Quality of Life - 7/13/2009
Ithaca, New York has a wonderful quality of life. The city has many of the cultural trappings of a major city, such as a plethora of restaurants, professional theatre troupes, museums, arthouse cinema, and a major university. It also has much of the charm of a small town. While hilly, it's a bicycle-friendly city with an excellent public transit system. The city is small enough that a bicycle is a viable primary mode of transportation. With a large lake, forests, extensive hiking trails, and three state parks within a fifteen-minute drive, Ithaca is an outdoors enthusiast's dream. All-in-all, Ithaca NY is a great place to Read More

Start Your Review of Ithaca



Wonderful place to live - 4/6/2009
It's true, the weather is less than ideal. But if a lot of weather doesn't bother you, Ithaca is a unique and beautiful town. As a college town, hosting Ithaca College and Cornell University, it is culturally far more urban and cultured than most towns its size. Small business that know how to address the local market can thrive here, despite the small city growth rate. People take personal freedom, the environment and education very seriously here, which means of course that Ithaca is liberal politically and quite socially conscious. It is blessed with beautiful natural features, especially Cayuga Lake and many stunning waterfalls. Near Ithaca you can enjoy farmland, woods, and vineyards, since this is also Finger Lakes wine country. Crusty conservatives might not agree, but Ithaca is a great place to live and raise children if your values are so Read More

outdoors - 1/24/2009
Ithaca really is gorges. Beautiful place for winter activities, camping, kayaking, swimming, running, hiking. Read More

Cost of living in Ithaca - too high - 12/2/2008
Ithaca is a great place to live and raise a child, but if you want to live within the city limits plan on spending a lot of money on housing/taxes Read More

Ithaca - 9/29/2008
Lovin' Read More

Quality of life...poor. - 6/23/2008
Don't believe the safety, the crime reports, the business reports. It is in the middle of no where. Socialistic. Many homeless. The pretty gorges not worth the trade off. Poor qualiy or life. Hide Read More

Not how it appears online. - 6/23/2008
Many people disappointed in moving here, especially if starting a business. Very closed minded, socialistic environment. Not happy with hard working individuals trying to make a living. Happier with poor people. Would like NY to be annexed to Canada...embarrassed about their country and their policies. Much more crime than ever reported. High School has vast racial issues. So leftist, socialistic, that no one can make any decisions about anything. If you are thinking about moving here, visit for at least a week first. Check out The Commons, their "vibrant" downtown, which they do nothing to help. If starting a business, be sure to notice the fact that noone goes downtown, but drunks, beggers and the homeless. There isn't any free parking...meters, garages. The list goes on. It is really sad. I hope that you don't get caught in the same trap that I got caught in. Oh, so beautiful. If you want beauty or a family environment, go to the real upstate NY. Go to the Read More

Not how it appears online. - 6/23/2008
Many people disappointed in moving here, especially if starting a business. Very closed minded, socialistic environment. Not happy with hard working individuals trying to make a living. Happier with poor people. Would like NY to be annexed to Canada...embarrassed about their country and their policies. Much more crime than ever reported. High School has vast racial issues. So leftist, socialistic, that no one can make any decisions about anything. If you are thinking about moving here, visit for at least a week first. Check out The Commons, their "vibrant" downtown, which they do nothing to help. If starting a business, be sure to notice the fact that noone goes downtown, but drunks, beggers and the homeless. There isn't any free parking...meters, garages. The list goes on. It is really sad. I hope that you don't get caught in the same trap that I got caught in. Oh, so beautiful. If you want beauty or a family environment, go to the real upstate NY. Go to the Read More

Jobs - 3/9/2008
Finding a job in Ithaca is close to impossible. Although this is a national problem, it has been a problem in Ithaca for Read More

Overview
Compare Ithaca, NY
cost of living
Compare food, housing, utilities, and more in Ithaca, New York to any other city in the US.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.