Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Buffalo, NY
🏆 Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Buffalo
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $66,995 more per year on average
69% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Buffalo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $524k less ($132,100 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $1041/mo less ($942 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $66,995/yr
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$66,995
$113,179 vs $46,184/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
69% lower
219.1 vs 706.2 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 80.2°F
Buffalo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$524k less
$132,100 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Buffalo, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $132,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $46,184 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 95.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 276,688 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Buffalo's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 14 and Buffalo wins 9. 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 Alexandria to Buffalo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $132,100 median home), income ($113,179 vs $46,184), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Buffalo, NY are about 296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.