Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Buffalo leads 12 of 21 categories
Buffalo
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688
Houston
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($132,100 vs $235,000)
38% less violent crime than Houston
Rent averages $293/mo less ($942 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Houston by $14,256/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Houston, TX
Pros
Households earn $14,256 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Violent Crime
38% lower
706.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$103k less
$132,100 vs $235,000
Houston
Median Income
$14,256
$60,440 vs $46,184/yr
Houston
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $235,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,235 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $60,440 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Buffalo leads 12 of 21 categories. Buffalo wins 12 and Houston wins 9. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $235,000 median home), income ($46,184 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Houston, TX are about 1,286 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.