Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Savannah leads 11 of 21 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 ✓ Larger
Savannah
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6
Median Household Income
$54,748 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($132,100 vs $203,300)
Rent averages $274/mo less ($942 vs $1,216)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°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 Savannah by $8,564/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Savannah, GA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Buffalo
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,564 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 32°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 95.6 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$71k less
$132,100 vs $203,300
Savannah
Median Income
$8,564
$54,748 vs $46,184/yr
Savannah
Violent Crime
97% lower
20.3 vs 706.2 per 100k
Savannah
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.3°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.6 |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $203,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,216 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $54,748 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 92.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 147,583 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Savannah leads 11 of 21 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and Savannah wins 11. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $203,300 median home), income ($46,184 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Savannah, GA are about 762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.