Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Louis, MO
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories
St. Louis
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $9,357 more per year on average
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($117,900 vs $174,100)
44% less violent crime than St. Louis
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Louis by $9,357/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Louis
Median Income
$9,357
$52,941 vs $43,584/yr
St. Louis
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
St. Louis
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Violent Crime
44% lower
765.3 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$56k less
$117,900 vs $174,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $174,100 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $938 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,941 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 325⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 360⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 272⚠ High | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.6% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ST. LOUIS CITY | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.8" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 298,018 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Louis's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories. St. Louis wins 13 and Syracuse wins 10. 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 St. Louis to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,100 vs $117,900 median home), income ($52,941 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Louis, MO and Syracuse, NY are about 796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.