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Lakes → New York → Skaneateles Lake

Skaneateles Lake

New York · Natural · near Skaneateles

8,700 acres 315 ft deep 40 ft clarity Water A
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6.2SCORE
Survey summary · New York
8,700
Surface acres
315 ft
Max depth
40 mi
Shoreline
40 ft
Typical clarity
863 ft
Elevation

Skaneateles Lake covers 8,700 acres in New York and drops to 315 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Water clarity averages around 40 feet, placing it among the clearer bodies of water in the country. Short-term rental posture: Highly restricted. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Exceptional clarity, roughly 40 ft
  • Very stable water level year-round
  • Deep water — 315 ft max
  • Boating
  • Swimming

Watch outs

  • Short-term rental rules are restrictive — do not assume rental income

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 9.5
Recreation 5.5
Value 3.5
Access 6.1
Investment 5.2

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Lake troutRainbow troutSmallmouth bassYellow perch

On the water

BoatingSwimmingSailing
Nearest station: SKANEATELES CREEK NEAR SKANEATELES JUNCTION NY. This is a stream gauge on connected water, not a gauge on the lake itself. It responds to storms and dam releases, so read it as a signal about the system — not as the lake's surface elevation.
2.62 ft
Gage height
2019-10-01 · 2500 days old

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 36 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 323 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

SURFACE 315 ft max avg 101 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 315 ft, average 101 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityNatural Typical drawdown2 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity40 ft Water quality gradeA Elevation863 ft Managing authorityCity of Syracuse

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityNYS DEC / Syracuse Water Wake / speed rulesNo-wake within 200ft
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with NYS DEC / Syracuse Water that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Highly restricted

Restrictions apply and vary by jurisdiction. Verify at the municipal level before you offer.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$1,030,000
Median waterfront
$5,337
Per shoreline foot
-1.6%
Year over year
28
Est. inventory
132
Avg days on market
$791
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy49% Booked nights / yr129 Gross revenue$109,303 Net operating income$56,194 Yield on median price5.46%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Skaneateles Lake actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$8,213
All-in per month
$233,970
Cash to close + setup
$18,298
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$98,561 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $65,122 (67%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $11,330 (12%) Property taxes $10,815 (11%) Hazard insurance $4,326 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Flood insurance $878 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$65,122
Property taxes$10,815
Hazard insurance$4,326
Flood insurance$878
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$11,330
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$98,561
Model your own numbers →

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