Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Buffalo, NY
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Buffalo
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Households earn $15,319 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($132,100 vs $246,000)
40% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
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 Albuquerque by $15,319/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$15,319
$61,503 vs $46,184/yr
Albuquerque
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 80.2°F
Buffalo
Violent Crime
40% lower
706.2 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$114k less
$132,100 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Buffalo, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $132,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $46,184 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 80.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 95.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 276,688 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Buffalo's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and Buffalo wins 8. 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 Albuquerque to Buffalo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $132,100 median home), income ($61,503 vs $46,184), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Buffalo, NY are about 1,577 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.