Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Kent leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Syracuse
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $43,382 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($117,900 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $810/mo less ($932 vs $1,742)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $43,382/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 7.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$43,382
$86,966 vs $43,584/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
36% lower
489.7 vs 765.3 per 100k
Kent
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$361k less
$117,900 vs $478,400
Syracuse
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent wins 12 and Syracuse wins 11. 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 Kent to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $117,900 median home), income ($86,966 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.