Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Syracuse, NY
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 14 of 22 categories
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
Yonkers
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($117,900 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $727/mo less ($932 vs $1,659)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $34,624/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 6.6%)
Yonkers, NY
Pros
Households earn $34,624 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Syracuse
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Syracuse
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$339k less
$117,900 vs $456,500
Yonkers
Median Income
$34,624
$78,208 vs $43,584/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
59% lower
311.8 vs 765.3 per 100k
Yonkers
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Yonkers
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 81.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Syracuse, NY | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $117,900 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $932 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,584 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 201⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 201⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 202⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.7% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.5% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.7°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 127.8" | 32.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 146,134 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.8% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Syracuse's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 14 of 22 categories. Syracuse wins 8 and Yonkers wins 14. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($117,900 vs $456,500 median home), income ($43,584 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Syracuse, NY and Yonkers, NY are about 186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.