Buffalo vs North Tonawanda
Buffalo, New York versus North Tonawanda, New York: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
North Tonawanda edges out Buffalo on overall objective livability (47 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Buffalo | North Tonawanda |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $46k | $67k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $47k |
| Home Value | $132k | $166k |
| Monthly Rent | $942 | $855 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.19% | 2.64% |
| Income Tax | 10.90% | 10.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.53% | 8.53% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.11% | 20.27% |
| Unemployment | 7.0% | 5.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 71°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8 in | 40.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4 in | 79.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 158 days | 185 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 95 days | 93 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 58.1 | 29.0 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 50 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 95.1 |
| Violent Crime | 2738/100k | 880/100k |
| Property Crime | 3236/100k | 1087/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 276,688 | 30,479 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 43.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.66 | 0.14 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.93 | 0.98 |
| Political Leaning | D+15 | Even |
| White (%) | 43.6% | 91.6% |
| Black (%) | 32.3% | 1.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 12.3% | 2.2% |
| Asian (%) | 7.6% | 1.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 3.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 14.0/20 | 10.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 7 mi | 10 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.1% | 88.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 23.09 | 86.62 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Buffalo or North Tonawanda more affordable?
- North Tonawanda has the lower cost of living: its index is $47k, compared with Buffalo's $49k and North Tonawanda's $47k. Median rent is $942 in Buffalo versus $855 in North Tonawanda.
- Is Buffalo or North Tonawanda safer?
- North Tonawanda has the lower violent crime rate. Buffalo reports 2738/100k and North Tonawanda reports 880/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Buffalo or North Tonawanda?
- The median home value is $132k in Buffalo and $166k in North Tonawanda, so homes are more affordable in Buffalo.