Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Long Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688
Long Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $578k less ($132,100 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $756/mo less ($942 vs $1,698)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $32,811/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
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,811 more per year on average
4% less violent crime than Buffalo
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Violent crime (676.4/100k) 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
$578k less
$132,100 vs $709,700
Long Beach
Median Income
$32,811
$78,995 vs $46,184/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
4% lower
676.4 vs 706.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Long Beach, 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 | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 173⚠ 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 | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and Long Beach wins 13. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $709,700 median home), income ($46,184 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Long Beach, CA are about 2,199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.