Decatur Syracuse

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Decatur to Syracuse is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 88.4 to 95.7 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $329/mo.

+$6,122
BLS median salary higher in Syracuse
277 to 380
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14:1 to 11.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$1,612
DOL infant care higher / yr in Syracuse

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 88.4 → 95.7
Rent Delta: +$329/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $6K higher median salary
  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - 7% higher cost of living
  • - $329/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 88.4 to 95.7, so the same paycheck buys less in Syracuse (ratio 1.08). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $329/mo ($3,948/yr) from $1,063 in Decatur to $1,392 in Syracuse.

Decatur still leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, the origin keeps the edge. Syracuse sits #149 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Decatur is #27/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $6,122 higher ($65,802 → $71,924). Labor-market size: 36,440 tracked jobs at origin vs 291,140 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Illinois scores 58 (D, #31/51) vs New York at 46 (F, #46/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Decatur
Syracuse
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 88.4
RPP 95.7
Decatur
Rent (2BR)
$1,063/mo
$1,392/mo
Decatur
Wages
$65,802
$71,924
Syracuse
Crime
277 per 100K
380 per 100K
Decatur
Schools
14:1
11.8:1
Syracuse
Childcare
$12,257/yr
$13,869/yr
Decatur
Environment
3029 violations
5536 violations
Decatur

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Illinois
58 D #31/51
Income tax
95
Property tax
46
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
46
Destination state · New York
46 F #46/51
Income tax
80
Property tax
48
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
96

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Decatur to see what you'd need to earn in Syracuse to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Syracuse
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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026