Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 13 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Hampton
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($132,100 vs $219,800)
Rent averages $313/mo less ($942 vs $1,255)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Hampton
Cons
Median income trails Hampton by $18,246/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
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Hampton, VA
Pros
65% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $18,246 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$88k less
$132,100 vs $219,800
Hampton
Median Income
$18,246
$64,430 vs $46,184/yr
Hampton
Violent Crime
65% lower
247.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Hampton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Hampton
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $219,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ 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 | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 49.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 137,217 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and Hampton wins 13. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $219,800 median home), income ($46,184 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Hampton, VA are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.