Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Dallas leads 16 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Households earn $20,401 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
14% less violent crime than Syracuse
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($117,900 vs $270,700)
Rent averages $373/mo less ($932 vs $1,305)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Dallas by $20,401/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$20,401
$63,985 vs $43,584/yr
Dallas
Violent Crime
14% lower
658.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Dallas
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$153k less
$117,900 vs $270,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 16 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 16 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 Dallas to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $117,900 median home), income ($63,985 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Syracuse, NY are about 1,323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.