Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Clearwater, FL
🏆 Clearwater 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
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($132,100 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $447/mo less ($942 vs $1,389)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clearwater by $13,174/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.7%)
Clearwater, FL
Pros
44% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $13,174 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/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 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$156k less
$132,100 vs $287,900
Clearwater
Median Income
$13,174
$59,358 vs $46,184/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
44% lower
395.5 vs 706.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.0% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Clearwater, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $287,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,389⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $59,358 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 31.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 56.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 116,984 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 58.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 23.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Clearwater's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Clearwater 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 Clearwater or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $287,900 median home), income ($46,184 vs $59,358), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Clearwater, FL are about 1,053 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.