Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Lehigh Acres, FL
🏆 Buffalo leads 12 of 20 categories
Buffalo
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Lehigh Acres
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,733 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
124,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($132,100 vs $231,500)
Rent averages $456/mo less ($942 vs $1,398)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lehigh Acres
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lehigh Acres by $13,549/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.5%)
Lehigh Acres, FL
Pros
Households earn $13,549 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,398/mo
Longer commutes — 36.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 102.3 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$99k less
$132,100 vs $231,500
Lehigh Acres
Median Income
$13,549
$59,733 vs $46,184/yr
Lehigh Acres
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Lehigh Acres
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Lehigh Acres, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $231,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,398⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $59,733 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 81.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | LEE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 62.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 124,440 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 27.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Lehigh Acres's 102.3 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Buffalo leads 12 of 20 categories. Buffalo wins 12 and Lehigh Acres wins 8. 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 Lehigh Acres or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $231,500 median home), income ($46,184 vs $59,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Lehigh Acres, FL are about 1,136 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.