Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stamford, CT
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Stamford leads 15 of 23 categories
Stamford
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
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.
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $57,134 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Syracuse
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($117,900 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1197/mo less ($932 vs $2,129)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $57,134/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Median Income
$57,134
$100,718 vs $43,584/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
79% lower
157.5 vs 765.3 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Stamford
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$467k less
$117,900 vs $584,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stamford, CT | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $584,700⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,129⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $100,718 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.8 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.1% ✓ 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 | 41 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.4% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stamford School District | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.9" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,413 | 146,134 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stamford's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 15 of 23 categories. Stamford 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 Stamford to Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($584,700 vs $117,900 median home), income ($100,718 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stamford, CT and Syracuse, NY are about 190 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.