Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Buffalo leads 14 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Inglewood
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $558k less ($132,100 vs $689,700)
Rent averages $724/mo less ($942 vs $1,666)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.0%)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Inglewood by $21,379/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
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,379 more per year on average
4% less violent crime than Buffalo
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Higher rents — median is $1,666/mo
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$558k less
$132,100 vs $689,700
Buffalo
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Buffalo
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 80.2°F vs 77.2°F
Inglewood
Median Income
$21,379
$67,563 vs $46,184/yr
Inglewood
Violent Crime
4% lower
674.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Inglewood, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $689,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,666⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $67,563 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 22.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 106,806 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buffalo leads 14 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 14 and Inglewood 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 Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $689,700 median home), income ($46,184 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Inglewood, CA are about 2,203 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.