Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 13 of 23 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
Sparks
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($132,100 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $584/mo less ($942 vs $1,526)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $36,754/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 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $36,754 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$291k less
$132,100 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$36,754
$82,938 vs $46,184/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
44% lower
394.4 vs 706.2 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and Sparks wins 13. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $423,500 median home), income ($46,184 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Sparks, NV are about 2,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.