Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Buffalo leads 12 of 22 categories
Buffalo
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
40% less violent crime than Springfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Households earn $2,734 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 4.8%)
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Springfield, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 32°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Buffalo
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Buffalo by $2,734/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Median Income
$2,734
$46,184 vs $43,450/yr
Buffalo
Violent Crime
40% lower
706.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$14k less
$132,100 vs $146,400
Springfield
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $146,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buffalo leads 12 of 22 categories. Buffalo wins 12 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $146,400 median home), income ($46,184 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Springfield, MO are about 857 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.