Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 15 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688
Tampa
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($132,100 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $480/mo less ($942 vs $1,422)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Tampa by $20,618/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 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Households earn $20,618 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$201k less
$132,100 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$20,618
$66,802 vs $46,184/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
37% lower
444.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and Tampa wins 15. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $333,200 median home), income ($46,184 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Tampa, FL are about 1,051 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.