Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 New York leads 13 of 23 categories
New York
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $15,242 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $439k less ($293,000 vs $732,100)
59% less violent crime than New York
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Cons
Median income trails New York by $15,242/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Median Income
$15,242
$76,607 vs $61,365/yr
Providence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
59% lower
276.7 vs 671.0 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$439k less
$293,000 vs $732,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 13 of 23 categories. New York wins 13 and Providence 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 New York to Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $293,000 median home), income ($76,607 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Providence, RI are about 154 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.