Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Chattanooga leads 15 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Households earn $14,119 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($117,900 vs $230,500)
7% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Rent averages $134/mo less ($932 vs $1,066)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chattanooga by $14,119/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Income
$14,119
$57,703 vs $43,584/yr
Chattanooga
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Violent Crime
7% lower
765.3 vs 823.7 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$113k less
$117,900 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 15 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 15 and Syracuse wins 7. 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 Chattanooga to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $117,900 median home), income ($57,703 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Syracuse, NY are about 735 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.