Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories
Buffalo
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Knoxville
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($132,100 vs $184,200)
5% less violent crime than Knoxville
Rent averages $101/mo less ($942 vs $1,043)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Cons
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 4.8%)
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Violent Crime
5% lower
706.2 vs 740.3 per 100k
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$52k less
$132,100 vs $184,200
Knoxville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Income
$2,125
$48,309 vs $46,184/yr
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $184,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,043 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $48,309 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Knoxville wins 14. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $184,200 median home), income ($46,184 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Knoxville, TN are about 550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.