Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Buffalo, NY
🏆 Albany leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Buffalo
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Households earn $8,552 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 7.0%)
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($132,100 vs $213,400)
14% less violent crime than Albany
Rent averages $188/mo less ($942 vs $1,130)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albany by $8,552/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$8,552
$54,736 vs $46,184/yr
Albany
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 80.2°F
Buffalo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Violent Crime
14% lower
706.2 vs 816.9 per 100k
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$81k less
$132,100 vs $213,400
Buffalo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Buffalo, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $132,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $46,184 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" ✓ Less | 95.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 276,688 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 22.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Buffalo's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 12 and Buffalo wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Buffalo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $132,100 median home), income ($54,736 vs $46,184), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Buffalo, NY are about 257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.