Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $42k less ($132,100 vs $174,100)
Rent averages $96/mo less ($942 vs $1,038)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 95°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
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.5%)
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Waco, TX
Pros
40% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Buffalo
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$42k less
$132,100 vs $174,100
Waco
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Income
$1,237
$47,421 vs $46,184/yr
Waco
Violent Crime
40% lower
425.9 vs 706.2 per 100k
Waco
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $174,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $47,421 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $174,100 median home), income ($46,184 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Waco, TX are about 1,272 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.