Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Philadelphia leads 12 of 22 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ 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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Households earn $13,953 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Syracuse
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($117,900 vs $215,500)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($932 vs $1,250)
16% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Philadelphia by $13,953/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Median Income
$13,953
$57,537 vs $43,584/yr
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Violent Crime
16% lower
765.3 vs 908.7 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$98k less
$117,900 vs $215,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 12 of 22 categories. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $117,900 median home), income ($57,537 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Syracuse, NY are about 216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.