Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 13 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Yonkers
New York
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($132,100 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $717/mo less ($942 vs $1,659)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $32,024/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
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Yonkers, NY
Pros
Households earn $32,024 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Buffalo
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Buffalo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$324k less
$132,100 vs $456,500
Yonkers
Median Income
$32,024
$78,208 vs $46,184/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
56% lower
311.8 vs 706.2 per 100k
Yonkers
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.6°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 32.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 209,780 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and Yonkers 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $456,500 median home), income ($46,184 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Yonkers, NY are about 290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.