Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
New York, NY
🏆 New York 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
New York
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $600k less ($132,100 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $772/mo less ($942 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails New York by $30,423/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
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $30,423 more per year on average
5% less violent crime than Buffalo
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$600k less
$132,100 vs $732,100
Buffalo
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
New York
Median Income
$30,423
$76,607 vs $46,184/yr
New York
Violent Crime
5% lower
671.0 vs 706.2 per 100k
New York
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New York leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and New York 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 New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $732,100 median home), income ($46,184 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and New York, NY are about 297 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.