Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Palmdale leads 13 of 23 categories
Palmdale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895 ✓ 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.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,830 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($117,900 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $693/mo less ($932 vs $1,625)
Commutes run 24 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
More college-educated — 29.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 98°F
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $34,830/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 7.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Income
$34,830
$78,414 vs $43,584/yr
Palmdale
Violent Crime
28% lower
551.0 vs 765.3 per 100k
Palmdale
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$280k less
$117,900 vs $397,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 33.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palmdale leads 13 of 23 categories. Palmdale 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 Palmdale to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $117,900 median home), income ($78,414 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.