01 · the cities
Syracuse
Syracuse averages around 120 inches of snow per year, which is the most of any major U.S. city, and locals wear it like a badge. The Carrier Dome (now JMA Wireless Dome) is the largest on-campus arena in the country. The food scene leans Italian (Salt City was an Italian immigrant hub) and excellent. The Finger Lakes are right next door. Bring boots.
full dispatch→Buffalo
Buffalo invented the wing (Anchor Bar, 1964, midnight, blue cheese, celery, not negotiable) and that should tell you most of what you need to know about the city's spirit. The Bills Mafia jumps through tables in subzero parking lots. Niagara Falls is 20 minutes away. The architecture (Sullivan, Wright, Olmsted parks) is genuinely world-class. The snow is part of the local mythology and the locals wear it proudly.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,619/mo
$1,374/mo
$245/mo less than Syracuse (18%)
Median home price
Median home price
$254k
$280k
$25k more than Syracuse
State income tax
State income tax
5.9%
5.9%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,227/mo
$6,472/mo
Buffalo has $245/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
142 days
152 days
10 more than Syracuse
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
1 days
0 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
53 days
42 days
days below 20°F per year
Syracuse drops below 20°F on 11 more days per year than Buffalo.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
59 / 100
66 / 100
7.0 pts ahead of Syracuse
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
16 routes
20 routes
4 more direct routes than Syracuse
Metro size
Metro size
653k metro
1.2M metro
Syracuse and Buffalo have similar event volume.
the verdict
1
Syracuse
categories won
6
Buffalo
categories won
Buffalo wins this comparison, leading on money and weather.
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