Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Buffalo leads 18 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
8% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (7.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Households earn $2,600 more per year on average
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
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.0%)
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Income
$2,600
$46,184 vs $43,584/yr
Buffalo
Violent Crime
8% lower
706.2 vs 765.3 per 100k
Buffalo
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$14k less
$117,900 vs $132,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buffalo leads 18 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 18 and Syracuse wins 5. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $117,900 median home), income ($46,184 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Syracuse, NY are about 138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.