Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 15 of 23 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
Little Rock
Arkansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($132,100 vs $205,800)
58% less violent crime than Little Rock
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Little Rock by $12,513/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.4%)
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Households earn $12,513 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Buffalo
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Violent Crime
58% lower
706.2 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$74k less
$132,100 vs $205,800
Little Rock
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Income
$12,513
$58,697 vs $46,184/yr
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
11.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $205,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,006 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $58,697 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Little Rock wins 15. 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $205,800 median home), income ($46,184 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Little Rock, AR are about 918 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.