Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco 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
Frisco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $399k less ($132,100 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $861/mo less ($942 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $98,383/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%)
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $98,383 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Buffalo
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Buffalo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
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
$399k less
$132,100 vs $531,400
Frisco
Median Income
$98,383
$144,567 vs $46,184/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
86% lower
100.9 vs 706.2 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
14.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Frisco, 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 | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | FRISCO 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" ✓ Drier | 42.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 2.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 202,075 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Frisco 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 Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $531,400 median home), income ($46,184 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Frisco, TX are about 1,183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.