Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Charleston, SC
🏆 Charleston 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
Charleston
South Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $307k less ($132,100 vs $438,900)
Rent averages $575/mo less ($942 vs $1,517)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Charleston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Cons
Median income trails Charleston by $37,707/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%)
Charleston, SC
Pros
Households earn $37,707 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Higher rents — median is $1,517/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$307k less
$132,100 vs $438,900
Charleston
Median Income
$37,707
$83,891 vs $46,184/yr
Charleston
Violent Crime
49% lower
357.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Charleston
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.0% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $438,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,517⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $83,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 95 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (121) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 52.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 149,960 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Charleston's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Charleston 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 Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $438,900 median home), income ($46,184 vs $83,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Charleston, SC are about 698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.