What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rochester has the most renters (61.9% rent).

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	Syracuse	Rochester
People
Population	146,384Lowest	208,772Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	+0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY	33.7±0.5Highest 15% below NY
Kids under 18	20.5%±0.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.9%±0.7Highest 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+	14.4%±0.6Highest NY: 17.9%	13.1%±0.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	30%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7%	8.8%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,819±$2kHighest 44% below NY	$47,213±$2kLowest 45% 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	$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY	$139,600±$5kHighest 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	$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY	$1,081±$16Highest 33% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,210Highest 51% below NY	$3,152Lowest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.4%±2.9Highest NY: 52.1%	53.3%±2.1Lowest 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	28.8%Highest NY: 14%	27.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	38.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Highest 11 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 45% below NY	19 minHighest 41% below NY
Work from home	12%±1.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.5%±1.2Highest 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	#472 of 484 in NY	#458 of 484 in NY
School district	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	EXPLORATION ELE CS - SCIENCE-TECHNOL · ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL	EDISON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	8.8Lowest
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.