Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Buffalo leads 14 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($132,100 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($942 vs $1,214)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
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 Providence by $15,181/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Providence, RI
Pros
61% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $15,181 more per year on average
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$161k less
$132,100 vs $293,000
Providence
Median Income
$15,181
$61,365 vs $46,184/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
61% lower
276.7 vs 706.2 per 100k
Providence
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buffalo leads 14 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 14 and Providence wins 9. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $293,000 median home), income ($46,184 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Providence, RI are about 387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.