Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 16 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 97°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita Falls by $9,400/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.4%)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
50% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $9,400 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.9)
Cons
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Median Income
$9,400
$55,584 vs $46,184/yr
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
50% lower
350.3 vs 706.2 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $949 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $55,584 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 24.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 27.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 3.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 16 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 7 and Wichita Falls wins 16. 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $128,800 median home), income ($46,184 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.