Side-by-side comparison of Syracuse, NY and Rochester, NY — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Syracuse has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.81% compared to Rochester's 4.53%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $155,000 in Syracuse vs $175,000 in Rochester, while rents come in at $1,020/mo and $1,100/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Rochester is growing faster at -0.1% annually, while Syracuse is losing population. Rochester leads on home value appreciation at 2.1% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.75% in Syracuse vs 1.72% in Rochester. Vacancy rates of 6.8% and 6.5% are mixed — Rochester has the tighter rental market.
Bottom line: Rochester edges out Syracuse on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.53%, Rochester's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Syracuse or Rochester.