Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Oakland leads 12 of 22 categories
Oakland
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,805 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $766k less ($117,900 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $917/mo less ($932 vs $1,849)
60% less violent crime than Oakland
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $50,805/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 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$50,805
$94,389 vs $43,584/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Violent Crime
60% lower
765.3 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$766k less
$117,900 vs $883,800
Syracuse
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 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 | 507⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oakland leads 12 of 22 categories. Oakland wins 12 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 Oakland to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $117,900 median home), income ($94,389 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,421 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.