Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Syracuse
New York
9
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $46,864 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($117,900 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $468/mo less ($932 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $46,864/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 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Median Income
$46,864
$90,448 vs $43,584/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
52% lower
364.9 vs 765.3 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 81.7°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 94.8 on the COL index
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$163k less
$117,900 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Midland is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland wins 14 and Syracuse wins 9. 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 Midland to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $117,900 median home), income ($90,448 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Syracuse, NY are about 1,604 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.