Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Erie leads 15 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Syracuse
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Erie, PA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.8%)
Homes cost $16k less ($101,500 vs $117,900)
Rent averages $123/mo less ($809 vs $932)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
Cons
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Syracuse, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 29.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 6.8%)
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Violent Crime
51% lower
375.6 vs 765.3 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$16k less
$101,500 vs $117,900
Erie
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $117,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $932 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $43,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Erie is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 15 of 23 categories. Erie wins 15 and Syracuse wins 8. 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 Erie to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $117,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Syracuse, NY are about 210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.