Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ 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.
Rochester, NY
Pros
24% less violent crime than Syracuse
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 102" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
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
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rochester
Median Income
$572
$44,156 vs $43,584/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
24% lower
582.3 vs 765.3 per 100k
Syracuse
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $117,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 29.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 40.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 16 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 Rochester to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $117,900 median home), income ($44,156 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Syracuse, NY are about 75 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.