Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Syracuse, NY
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories
Syracuse
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Tucson
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($117,900 vs $218,200)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tucson by $8,465/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.5%)
Tucson, AZ
Pros
23% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (6.5%)
Households earn $8,465 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$100k less
$117,900 vs $218,200
Tucson
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Income
$8,465
$52,049 vs $43,584/yr
Tucson
Violent Crime
23% lower
588.8 vs 765.3 per 100k
Tucson
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Tucson
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 81.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Syracuse, NY | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $117,900 ✓ Lower | $218,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $932 ✓ Lower | $991 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,584 | $52,049 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 201⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 201⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 202⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.7% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.5% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.7°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 127.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 146,134 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.8% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Syracuse's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 16 of 23 categories. Syracuse wins 7 and Tucson wins 16. 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 Syracuse to Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($117,900 vs $218,200 median home), income ($43,584 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Syracuse, NY and Tucson, AZ are about 2,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.