Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($132,100 vs $391,500)
Rent averages $147/mo less ($942 vs $1,089)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°F
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 Provo by $11,759/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
71% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $11,759 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 41°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$259k less
$132,100 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$11,759
$57,943 vs $46,184/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
71% lower
206.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 9 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $391,500 median home), income ($46,184 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Provo, UT are about 1,694 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.