Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio 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
San Antonio
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($132,100 vs $198,000)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($942 vs $1,189)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°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 San Antonio by $13,409/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.9%)
San Antonio, TX
Pros
16% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $13,409 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$66k less
$132,100 vs $198,000
San Antonio
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Income
$13,409
$59,593 vs $46,184/yr
San Antonio
Violent Crime
16% lower
594.1 vs 706.2 per 100k
San Antonio
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
San Antonio
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $198,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $59,593 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 182⚠ 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 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 14 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 9 and San Antonio 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 San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $198,000 median home), income ($46,184 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and San Antonio, TX are about 1,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.