The Town FilesMarcellus, New York
Town in Onondaga County · population 6,066 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,700
- Household income
- $94,112
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 106 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 49.2
Marcellus is a town of 6,066 people in Onondaga County, New York. The median home is worth $245,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 90% of New York towns, more of a college town than 78% of New York towns, better for families than 72% of New York towns.
How Marcellus ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marcellus is worth $245,700, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $94,112, which is more affordable than 59% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,131 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marcellus | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,131 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $94,112 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Marcellus
| People | Marcellus | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Marcellus
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 105.7 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marcellus since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 28, 2002 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 23, 2004.
Severe weather in Onondaga County since 1996
Onondaga County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| June 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1993: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Onondaga County
Onondaga County had 245,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,444 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Marcellus itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Towns near Marcellus
- Skaneateles, NY4.3 mi · 7,112 people · home $457,800
- Skaneateles, NY5.3 mi · 2,533 people · home $647,100
- Onondaga, NY5.7 mi · 22,937 people · home $246,200
- Fairmount, NY7.8 mi · 10,248 people · home $184,000
- Camillus, NY8.6 mi · 25,346 people · home $209,000
- Westvale, NY8.6 mi · 5,090 people · home $214,200
- Owasco, NY9.2 mi · 3,552 people · home $282,100
- Elbridge, NY9.6 mi · 5,476 people · home $152,400
Marcellus questions
Is Marcellus, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marcellus scores better for retirees than 90% of New York towns and quieter than 51%. 24.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.2).
How much does a house cost in Marcellus?
The median owner-occupied home in Marcellus is valued at $245,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,112, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,131 a month.
What is the weather like in Marcellus?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 105.7 inches of snow.
Does Marcellus get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marcellus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 28, 2002. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)