Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Petersburg, FL
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 16 of 23 categories
St. Petersburg
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343 ✓ 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.
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Households earn $26,749 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.6%)
19% less violent crime than Syracuse
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($117,900 vs $289,000)
Rent averages $478/mo less ($932 vs $1,410)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $26,749/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 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$26,749
$70,333 vs $43,584/yr
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
19% lower
619.6 vs 765.3 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$171k less
$117,900 vs $289,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $289,000 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,410⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,333 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.7% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.8% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 259,343 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.9% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Petersburg's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 16 of 23 categories. St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,000 vs $117,900 median home), income ($70,333 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Petersburg, FL and Syracuse, NY are about 1,116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.