Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Clovis, CA
🏆 Clovis 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
Clovis
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($132,100 vs $420,700)
Rent averages $540/mo less ($942 vs $1,482)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Clovis
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 98°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Clovis by $52,370/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 6.3%)
Clovis, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,370 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Buffalo
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$289k less
$132,100 vs $420,700
Clovis
Median Income
$52,370
$98,554 vs $46,184/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
65% lower
244.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Clovis
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Clovis
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Clovis, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $420,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,482⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $98,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Clovis Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 14.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 120,607 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 28.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Clovis's 107.8 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Clovis 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 Clovis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $420,700 median home), income ($46,184 vs $98,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Clovis, CA are about 2,183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.