Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Ontario leads 13 of 23 categories
Ontario
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,486 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Syracuse
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $395k less ($117,900 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $894/mo less ($932 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
More college-educated — 29.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $34,486/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
Ontario
Median Income
$34,486
$78,070 vs $43,584/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
64% lower
272.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$395k less
$117,900 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 32.6 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 13 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 13 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 Ontario to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $117,900 median home), income ($78,070 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.