Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Buffalo, NY
🏆 Beaverton leads 15 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Buffalo
New York
8
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Households earn $42,715 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Buffalo
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $363k less ($132,100 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $721/mo less ($942 vs $1,663)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $42,715/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$42,715
$88,899 vs $46,184/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
48% lower
364.8 vs 706.2 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
Buffalo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$363k less
$132,100 vs $494,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Buffalo, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $132,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $46,184 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 95.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 276,688 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% ✓ Higher | 42.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Buffalo's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 15 of 23 categories. Beaverton 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 Beaverton to Buffalo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $132,100 median home), income ($88,899 vs $46,184), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Buffalo, NY are about 2,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.