Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach 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 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($132,100 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $672/mo less ($942 vs $1,614)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $17,860/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 6.2%)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Households earn $17,860 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Buffalo
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$193k less
$132,100 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$17,860
$64,044 vs $46,184/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
18% lower
575.8 vs 706.2 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ 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 | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 8 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $324,800 median home), income ($46,184 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.