Rochester or Syracuse: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Rochester wins on more indicators: 5 of 11 against 4.
- Money: tie 2:2
- Climate and risks: Rochester 3:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Rochester
Indicator
Syracuse
Money
Tie (2 : 2)Per capita income
higher is better
✓$65,468
20242% higher
✗$63,881
20242% lower
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,532
2026-09-306% lower
✗$1,627
2026-09-306% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✗$281,279
2026-09-305% higher
✓$268,949
2026-09-304% lower
Price level
lower is better
✗97.0 100 = US average
20241% higher
✓95.7 100 = US average
20241% lower
Climate and risks
Better: Rochester (3 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗39 AQI
20248% higher
✓36 AQI
20248% lower
Days with unhealthy air
tie
0 days per year
2024
0 days per year
2024
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓30 days per year
2016-202516% lower
✗35 days per year
2016-202519% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✓18 days per year
2016-202517% lower
✗22 days per year
2016-202521% higher
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✓0.5 days per year
2016-202576% lower
✗2.1 days per year
2016-2025320% higher
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
37 days per year
2016-2025
37 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3,268 °C·days per year
2016-2025
3,305 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
442 °C·days per year
2016-2025
472 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
125 days per year
2016-2025
133 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
26 days per year
2016-2025
29 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
885 mm per year
2016-2025
1,077 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
71 %
2021-2025
68 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗15 days per year
2021-20257% higher
✓14 days per year
2021-20257% lower
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
312 km
2006-2025
246 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,057,218 people
2024
655,189 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Rochester, Syracuse.