Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
11
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,783 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($117,900 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $644/mo less ($932 vs $1,576)
8% less violent crime than Lancaster
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $27,783/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 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$27,783
$71,367 vs $43,584/yr
Lancaster
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Violent Crime
8% lower
765.3 vs 834.7 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$251k less
$117,900 vs $368,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 220⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 12 of 23 categories. Lancaster 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 Lancaster to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $117,900 median home), income ($71,367 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.