Uprootmap
Watertown vs Syracuse
Watertown and Syracuse
Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Syracuse are under the US rate in this release, 5.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Watertown to Syracuse
In 2022-2023, 234 households filed a move from Watertown to Syracuse (about 374 people, average adjusted gross income $53,701). 193 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,139 in Watertown and $1,236 in Syracuse. Watertown has a state tax on wages. Syracuse has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Syracuse is 94% of the national level for the same work, against 88% in Watertown.
Syracuse averages 159 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 26°F. Watertown is 158 sunny days, 81°F in July, 27°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Syracuse and 20 in Watertown.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 234 households moved Watertown → Syracuse (about 374 people, average AGI $53,701). 193 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Watertown and Syracuse changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 83 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into Syracuse
Questions
Is Syracuse cheaper than Watertown after tax and rent?
No. Syracuse leaves about $63 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,139 in Watertown and $1,236 in Syracuse.
Does Syracuse have state income tax?
Syracuse is in New York, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Watertown to Syracuse?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.