Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Memphis leads 11 of 21 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
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.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Households earn $4,506 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Syracuse, NY
Pros
69% less violent crime than Memphis
Homes cost $22k less ($117,900 vs $139,600)
Rent averages $118/mo less ($932 vs $1,050)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
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
Median income trails Memphis by $4,506/yr
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Income
$4,506
$48,090 vs $43,584/yr
Memphis
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Violent Crime
69% lower
765.3 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$22k less
$117,900 vs $139,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Memphis leads 11 of 21 categories. Memphis wins 11 and Syracuse wins 10. 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 Memphis to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $117,900 median home), income ($48,090 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Syracuse, NY are about 920 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.