Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Baltimore leads 13 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Households earn $14,765 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 34.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($117,900 vs $202,900)
52% less violent crime than Baltimore
Rent averages $303/mo less ($932 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Baltimore by $14,765/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Income
$14,765
$58,349 vs $43,584/yr
Baltimore
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Baltimore
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Violent Crime
52% lower
765.3 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$85k less
$117,900 vs $202,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baltimore leads 13 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 13 and Syracuse wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Baltimore to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $117,900 median home), income ($58,349 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Syracuse, NY are about 260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.