Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Buffalo leads 12 of 23 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
Miami Gardens
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($132,100 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $641/mo less ($942 vs $1,583)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.0%)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miami Gardens by $9,887/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
41% less violent crime than Buffalo
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Households earn $9,887 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Buffalo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 7.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$168k less
$132,100 vs $299,700
Buffalo
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$9,887
$56,071 vs $46,184/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
41% lower
414.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $56,071 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buffalo leads 12 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 12 and Miami Gardens wins 11. 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 Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $299,700 median home), income ($46,184 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.