Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Lansing leads 12 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
47% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (7.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Median income trails Lansing by $4,563/yr
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $20k less ($112,200 vs $132,100)
Households earn $4,563 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 7.0%)
Snowy winters — about 50" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Violent Crime
47% lower
706.2 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Buffalo
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.3% unemployment
Lansing
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Income
$4,563
$50,747 vs $46,184/yr
Lansing
Median Home Value
$20k less
$112,200 vs $132,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $954 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $50,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 50.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lansing leads 12 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 11 and Lansing wins 12. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $112,200 median home), income ($46,184 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Lansing, MI are about 289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.