Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Pasadena leads 16 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Syracuse
New York
7
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,234 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $864k less ($117,900 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1168/mo less ($932 vs $2,100)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $54,234/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$54,234
$97,818 vs $43,584/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
37% lower
480.4 vs 765.3 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°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
$864k less
$117,900 vs $981,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena'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, Pasadena leads 16 of 23 categories. Pasadena wins 16 and Syracuse wins 7. 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 Pasadena to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $117,900 median home), income ($97,818 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.