The Town FilesSouth Lansing, New York
Community in Tompkins County · population 1,078 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $350,400
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 30.5
South Lansing is a community of 1,078 people in Tompkins County, New York. The median home is worth $350,400, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 97% of New York towns, better for retirees than 89% of New York towns.
How South Lansing 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 South Lansing is worth $350,400, above the typical New York town ($217,700). 59.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Lansing | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $350,400 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,080 |
| Median household income | — | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.8% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Lansing
| People | South Lansing | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in South Lansing
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Lansing since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 21, 2021 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 3, 2012.
Severe weather in Tompkins County since 1996
Tompkins County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 13, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4031: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Tompkins County
Tompkins County had 48,051 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,770 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in South Lansing itself the ACS puts it at 17.2%.
Towns near South Lansing
- Lansing, NY3.0 mi · 3,648 people · home $516,900
- Lansing, NY3.0 mi · 11,565 people · home $346,400
- Cayuga Heights, NY4.5 mi · 4,114 people · home $433,000
- Northeast Ithaca, NY4.7 mi · 2,701 people · home $402,000
- Northwest Ithaca, NY5.5 mi · 2,231 people · home $312,900
- Forest Home, NY5.7 mi · 1,168 people · home $499,300
- Ithaca, NY6.1 mi · 32,108 people · home $342,700
- Varna, NY6.3 mi · 767 people · home —
South Lansing questions
Is South Lansing, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Lansing scores better for retirees than 89% of New York towns and quieter than 34%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.5).
How much does a house cost in South Lansing?
The median owner-occupied home in South Lansing is valued at $350,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in South Lansing?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 62.9 inches of snow.
Does South Lansing get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Lansing since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 21, 2021. 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)