Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 15 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Yonkers
New York
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($293,000 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $445/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,659)
11% less violent crime than Yonkers
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $16,843/yr
Yonkers, NY
Pros
Households earn $16,843 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Providence
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
11% lower
276.7 vs 311.8 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$164k less
$293,000 vs $456,500
Yonkers
Median Income
$16,843
$78,208 vs $61,365/yr
Yonkers
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 32.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Providence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 15 of 23 categories. Providence wins 8 and Yonkers wins 15. 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 Providence to Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $456,500 median home), income ($61,365 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Yonkers, NY are about 141 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.