Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Syracuse
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $12,742 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $41k less ($117,900 vs $158,700)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 98°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails McAllen by $12,742/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$12,742
$56,326 vs $43,584/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
80% lower
150.0 vs 765.3 per 100k
McAllen
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$41k less
$117,900 vs $158,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. McAllen 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 McAllen to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $117,900 median home), income ($56,326 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Syracuse, NY are about 1,701 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.