Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $35,047 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($117,900 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $439/mo less ($932 vs $1,371)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $35,047/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 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Median Income
$35,047
$78,631 vs $43,584/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
36% lower
488.8 vs 765.3 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$229k less
$117,900 vs $347,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 15 and Syracuse wins 8. 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 Raleigh to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $117,900 median home), income ($78,631 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Syracuse, NY are about 516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.