Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 New Haven leads 14 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Syracuse
New York
9
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
30% less violent crime than Syracuse
Households earn $10,721 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.8%)
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($117,900 vs $236,500)
Rent averages $470/mo less ($932 vs $1,402)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Haven by $10,721/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Median Income
$10,721
$54,305 vs $43,584/yr
New Haven
Violent Crime
30% lower
534.8 vs 765.3 per 100k
New Haven
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$119k less
$117,900 vs $236,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Haven leads 14 of 23 categories. New Haven 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 New Haven to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $117,900 median home), income ($54,305 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and Syracuse, NY are about 204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.