Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $84/mo less ($942 vs $1,026)
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
Median income trails Montgomery by $7,982/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Montgomery, AL
Pros
16% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $7,982 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Buffalo
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Income
$7,982
$54,166 vs $46,184/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
16% lower
594.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Montgomery
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $141,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 9 and Montgomery wins 14. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $141,900 median home), income ($46,184 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Montgomery, AL are about 833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.