Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Simi Valley, CA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Simi Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,560 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Syracuse
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $586k less ($117,900 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1470/mo less ($932 vs $2,402)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $68,560/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 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Median Income
$68,560
$112,144 vs $43,584/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
83% lower
129.1 vs 765.3 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$586k less
$117,900 vs $704,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Simi Valley, CA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $704,200⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,402⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,144 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.0% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Simi Valley Unified | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,153 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.8% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Simi Valley's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Simi Valley 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 Simi Valley to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($704,200 vs $117,900 median home), income ($112,144 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Simi Valley, CA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.