Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Marcos, CA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories
San Marcos
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,829 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Syracuse
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $611k less ($117,900 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1132/mo less ($932 vs $2,064)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $55,829/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
San Marcos
Median Income
$55,829
$99,413 vs $43,584/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
71% lower
222.4 vs 765.3 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$611k less
$117,900 vs $728,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Marcos, CA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $728,800⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,064⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,413 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.5:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.5% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Marcos Unified | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,360 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.9% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Marcos's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories. San Marcos 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 San Marcos to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($728,800 vs $117,900 median home), income ($99,413 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Marcos, CA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.