Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Renton leads 12 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Syracuse
New York
11
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $48,708 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Syracuse
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $459k less ($117,900 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $932/mo less ($932 vs $1,864)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $48,708/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 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$48,708
$92,292 vs $43,584/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
56% lower
339.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$459k less
$117,900 vs $576,800
Syracuse
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Renton leads 12 of 23 categories. Renton wins 12 and Syracuse wins 11. 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 Renton to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $117,900 median home), income ($92,292 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,227 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.