Syracuse receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Syracuse
Rochester
Opportunity
62 · Top 36%
vs58 · Top 44%
Growth
59 · Top 36%
vs35 · Bottom 27%
Climate
61 · Bottom 29%
vs62 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 9%
vs94 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
98 · Top 7%
vs98 · Top 7%
Economic stability
56 · Top 43%
vs66 · Top 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Syracuse | Rochester | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 656,410 | 1,058,413 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,492 | $76,284 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,532 | $43,131 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 275/sq mi | 362/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $187,700 | $204,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,077 | $1,143 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 67.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 38.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 12.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,091 | 1,774 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 147.5% | 5.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.9" | 35.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 22.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.1 | 40.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: Syracuse, NY Metro Area · Rochester, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology