Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reno, NV
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Reno leads 15 of 22 categories
Reno
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
7
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.
Reno, NV
Pros
Households earn $29,489 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($117,900 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $428/mo less ($932 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $29,489/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Reno
Median Income
$29,489
$73,073 vs $43,584/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
31% lower
529.6 vs 765.3 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$344k less
$117,900 vs $462,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reno, NV | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $462,100⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,073 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.2" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.3" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 265,196 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reno's cost of living index is 102.8 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Reno leads 15 of 22 categories. Reno wins 15 and Syracuse wins 7. 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 Reno to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($462,100 vs $117,900 median home), income ($73,073 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reno, NV and Syracuse, NY are about 2,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.