Buffalo vs Rochester
Buffalo, New York versus Rochester, New York: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Buffalo and Rochester score about the same overall (42 vs 43 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Buffalo | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $46k | $44k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $52k |
| Home Value | $132k | $111k |
| Monthly Rent | $942 | $995 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.19% | 2.67% |
| Income Tax | 10.90% | 10.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.53% | 8.53% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.11% | 20.45% |
| Unemployment | 7.0% | 8.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8 in | 35.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4 in | 102.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 158 days | 152 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 95 days | 95 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 58.1 | 2.3 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 49 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 2738/100k | 3084/100k |
| Property Crime | 3236/100k | 3613/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 276,688 | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 32.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.66 | 0.66 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.93 | 0.93 |
| Political Leaning | D+15 | D+22 |
| White (%) | 43.6% | 36.3% |
| Black (%) | 32.3% | 35.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 12.3% | 19.7% |
| Asian (%) | 7.6% | 3.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 4.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 19 min |
| Walkability | 14.0/20 | 13.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 7 mi | 5 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.1% | 83.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 23.09 | 25.02 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
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 Rochester more affordable?
- Buffalo has the lower cost of living: its index is $49k, compared with Buffalo's $49k and Rochester's $52k. Median rent is $942 in Buffalo versus $995 in Rochester.
- Is Buffalo or Rochester safer?
- Buffalo has the lower violent crime rate. Buffalo reports 2738/100k and Rochester reports 3084/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Buffalo or Rochester?
- The median home value is $132k in Buffalo and $111k in Rochester, so homes are more affordable in Rochester.