Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Green Bay, WI
🏆 Green Bay leads 16 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Green Bay
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,846
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $41k less ($132,100 vs $172,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 25°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Green Bay by $12,990/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.1%)
Green Bay, WI
Pros
30% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $12,990 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($864 vs $942)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Buffalo
Cons
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$41k less
$132,100 vs $172,700
Green Bay
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Income
$12,990
$59,174 vs $46,184/yr
Green Bay
Violent Crime
30% lower
495.1 vs 706.2 per 100k
Green Bay
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Green Bay, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $172,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 | $864 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $59,174 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 62 ✓ 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 | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Bay Area Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F ✓ Warmer | 24.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 32.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 55.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 106,846 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 56.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Green Bay's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Green Bay leads 16 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 7 and Green Bay wins 16. 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 Green Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $172,700 median home), income ($46,184 vs $59,174), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Green Bay, WI are about 469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.