Buffalo or New York: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Buffalo wins on more indicators: 8 of 11 against 3.
- Money: Buffalo 3:1
- Climate and risks: Buffalo 5:2
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Buffalo
Indicator
New York
Money
Better: Buffalo (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$63,794
202432% lower
✓$94,460
202448% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,451
2026-09-3059% lower
✗$3,546
2026-09-30144% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$287,359
2026-09-3061% lower
✗$730,949
2026-09-30154% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓95.8 100 = US average
202415% lower
✗112.6 100 = US average
202418% higher
Climate and risks
Better: Buffalo (5 : 2)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓44 AQI
202415% lower
✗52 AQI
202418% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓1 days per year
202496% lower
✗24 days per year
20242300% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓20 days per year
2016-202550% lower
✗41 days per year
2016-2025101% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
lower is better
✗16 days per year
2016-2025433% higher
✓3 days per year
2016-202581% lower
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✗0.3 days per year
2016-2025
✓0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
38 days per year
2016-2025
11 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
3,242 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,313 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
460 °C·days per year
2016-2025
769 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
127 days per year
2016-2025
106 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
25 days per year
2016-2025
5 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,033 mm per year
2016-2025
1,277 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
69 %
2021-2025
57 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✓15 days per year
2021-202526% lower
✗20 days per year
2021-202536% higher
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
413 km
2006-2025
2 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
✗0.05 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
no data
4.8 magnitude
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,160,172 people
2024
19,940,274 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Buffalo, New York.