The climate can be depressing, as Binghamton has the greatest number of cloudy days per year of any city outside the Pacific Northwest, and ranks 14th highest in the U.S. for days of precipitation. That precipitation combined with the narrow valley river confluence can bring flooding. Cost of living and particularly the cost of housing is very low especially for the region.

Binghamton is in a comparatively narrow valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers. The climate is humid continental. Located adjacent to the so-called St. Lawrence Valley storm track, the area has frequent and rapid weather changes. Summers are warm, but temperatures and humidity seldom become oppressing. Daytime temperatures rise rapidly but hit up to 90 degrees only a few days each month. Summer evenings are typically cool. Winters are cold but not severe with daytime highs in the 20’s and 30’s and lows in the mid-teens to 20’s. A few sub-zero readings occur each winter. Snowfall is moderate and much higher in the surrounding hills. The cloudiness and valley fogs arise from proximity to Lake Ontario and nearby landforms combined with the storm track location. First freeze is early October, last is early May.