Onondaga County home prices surge in 18 of 20 towns

Home prices climbed in 18 of Onondaga County’s 20 municipalities in early April, a broad rise that shows the market is still pushing higher well beyond a handful of hot spots. Data from Central New York Information Service Inc., the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors’ MLS arm, showed average home sale prices up from the same period a year earlier across nearly the entire county.

The countywide numbers help explain why buyers are still facing pressure. Zillow put Onondaga County’s typical home value at $270,792 as of March 31, up 6.2% over the prior year, with homes going pending in about 8 days. Realtor.com’s March market report showed a median listing price of $269,900, 1,218 active listings and a median of 31 days on market, a sign that the market had more breathing room than the fastest-moving stretches of recent years, but was still competitive.

The April snapshot built on the same pattern seen in March, when average prices had risen in 17 of the county’s 20 municipalities. That followed months of steady gains in local home values, including 2025 coverage showing average sale prices up 20% so far that year in two towns and five towns posting year-over-year jumps of more than $40,000. The latest figures suggest the rally has widened rather than faded.

For Onondaga County buyers, the main pressure point remains supply. A county with more than a thousand active listings still saw homes go pending in roughly a week, which means well-priced houses continue to move quickly, especially in neighborhoods where demand is strongest. For sellers, the same conditions have preserved equity gains and kept pricing power intact. For first-time buyers, the rising averages have made entry harder, especially as monthly payments track higher home values and limited inventory keeps competition alive across much of the county.