Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 18 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
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.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Syracuse
Households earn $16,603 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $54k less ($117,900 vs $171,800)
Rent averages $221/mo less ($932 vs $1,153)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $16,603/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 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$16,603
$60,187 vs $43,584/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
44% lower
427.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$54k less
$117,900 vs $171,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 18 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 18 and Syracuse wins 5. 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 Pittsburgh to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $117,900 median home), income ($60,187 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Syracuse, NY are about 267 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.