What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most renters (61.9% rent).

Syracuse has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rochester	Syracuse
People
Population	208,772Highest	146,384Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	33.7±0.5Highest 15% below NY	31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY
Kids under 18	20.9%±0.7Highest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±0.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Rochester and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.1%±0.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	14.4%±0.6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest NY: 40.2%	31.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.8%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%	16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,213±$2kLowest 45% below NY	$47,819±$2kHighest 44% below NY
	Syracuse and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$139,600±$5kHighest 67% below NY	$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY
	Rochester and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,081±$16Highest 33% below NY	$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,152Lowest 52% below NY	$3,210Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.4%±2.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Syracuse and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27.8%Lowest NY: 14%	28.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	38.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	41.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1948Highest 11 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 41% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	12.5%±1.2Highest NY: 14.9%	12%±1.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Rochester and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#458 of 484 in NY	#472 of 484 in NY
School district	EXPLORATION ELE CS - SCIENCE-TECHNOL · ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	EDISON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL	HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8Lowest	13.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.