Buffalo vs Syracuse
Buffalo, New York versus Syracuse, 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 Syracuse score about the same overall (42 vs 40 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Buffalo | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $46k | $44k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $51k |
| Home Value | $132k | $118k |
| Monthly Rent | $942 | $932 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.19% | 2.61% |
| Income Tax | 10.90% | 10.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.53% | 8.53% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 17.11% | 20.79% |
| Unemployment | 7.0% | 8.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 71°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8 in | 43.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4 in | 127.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 158 days | 197 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 59°F |
| Comfortable Days | 95 days | 89 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 58.1 | 45.6 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 2738/100k | 2739/100k |
| Property Crime | 3236/100k | 3051/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 276,688 | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 31.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.66 | 0.63 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.93 | 0.93 |
| Political Leaning | D+15 | D+21 |
| White (%) | 43.6% | 49.2% |
| Black (%) | 32.3% | 27.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 12.3% | 9.9% |
| Asian (%) | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 6.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 14.0/20 | 16.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 7 mi | 78 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.1% | 80.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 23.09 | 26.69 |
| 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 Syracuse more affordable?
- Buffalo has the lower cost of living: its index is $49k, compared with Buffalo's $49k and Syracuse's $51k. Median rent is $942 in Buffalo versus $932 in Syracuse.
- Is Buffalo or Syracuse safer?
- Buffalo has the lower violent crime rate. Buffalo reports 2738/100k and Syracuse reports 2739/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Buffalo or Syracuse?
- The median home value is $132k in Buffalo and $118k in Syracuse, so homes are more affordable in Syracuse.