Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Provo leads 13 of 23 categories
Provo
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
73% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $14,359 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $274k less ($117,900 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $157/mo less ($932 vs $1,089)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Provo by $14,359/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Median Income
$14,359
$57,943 vs $43,584/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
73% lower
206.6 vs 765.3 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$274k less
$117,900 vs $391,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 13 of 23 categories. Provo 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 Provo to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $117,900 median home), income ($57,943 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Syracuse, NY are about 1,829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.