Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Carrollton, TX
🏆 Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories
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
Carrollton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($132,100 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $613/mo less ($942 vs $1,555)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $49,196/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 3.7%)
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $49,196 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$195k less
$132,100 vs $327,300
Carrollton
Median Income
$49,196
$95,380 vs $46,184/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
81% lower
137.1 vs 706.2 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.0% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Carrollton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $327,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,555⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $95,380 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 17.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 89.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 39.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 132,284 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Carrollton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Carrollton wins 15. 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 Buffalo to Carrollton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $327,300 median home), income ($46,184 vs $95,380), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Carrollton, TX are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.