Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($132,100 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $680/mo less ($942 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $64,939/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
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $64,939 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$179k less
$132,100 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$64,939
$111,123 vs $46,184/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
86% lower
95.9 vs 706.2 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Pearland 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $311,100 median home), income ($46,184 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Pearland, TX are about 1,296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.