Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma 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
Yuma
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $54k less ($132,100 vs $186,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 107°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.0%)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $86/mo less ($942 vs $1,028)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Yuma by $13,128/yr
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 95" of snow per year
Yuma, AZ
Pros
40% less violent crime than Buffalo
Households earn $13,128 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 7.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$54k less
$132,100 vs $186,500
Buffalo
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Income
$13,128
$59,312 vs $46,184/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
40% lower
423.6 vs 706.2 per 100k
Yuma
Summer Heat
26.5°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,028 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 13 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 10 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $186,500 median home), income ($46,184 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Yuma, AZ are about 2,059 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.