Relocation profile · Federal data
Syracuse, NY
LiveAbility 53.9/100 places Syracuse #149 of 387 (middle third).
- 95.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,392
- 2BR rent / mo
- $71,924
- Median salary
- 53.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Syracuse ranks #149 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (53.9/100), with its strongest marks in schools and air quality.
- #149
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 19,867,248
- metro-area population
- 380
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 4,812
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (21/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Syracuse ranks #149 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 95.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,392/mo, median salary $71,924; LiveAbility Score 53.9/100, strongest in schools and air quality.
Signature: LiveAbility 53.9/100 places Syracuse #149 of 387 (middle third).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 95.7 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,392/mo.
LiveAbility 53.9/100 keeps Syracuse in the middle third (#149 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Syracuse area is 291,140.
Syracuse vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
54 Top 39% higher than 61% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Syracuse housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Syracuse MSA; housing RPP 80.7 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,392/mo.
Syracuse wages and employment
Syracuse posts 291,140 total employment with median salary $71,924.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $37,440 |
| Registered Nurses | $86,960 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,250 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,940 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,950 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Syracuse area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Syracuse area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Syracuse's composite Life Score is 44.4/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Syracuse ranks #149 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 53.9/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Syracuse - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
95 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
89 /100
- Job market
Job market
83 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
39 /100
- Housing
Housing
39 /100
- Safety 37
Safety
37 /100
- Climate 23
Climate
23 /100
- Low hazard 21
Low hazard
21 /100
What this shows Syracuse's strongest dimensions are schools and air quality; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 21/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Syracuse to
Metros near Syracuse on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Syracuse on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Syracuse cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Syracuse wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Syracuse?
Syracuse runs a $71,924 median salary at a 95.7 cost index, ranking #149 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Syracuse's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Syracuse head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Syracuse
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.