Which is better, Buffalo, NY or Detroit, MI?

Buffalo, NY comes out ahead of Detroit, MI on 30 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 7. Buffalo, NY leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.

Which has more people, Buffalo, NY or Detroit, MI?

Buffalo, NY has a population of 274,006 (81st of 477 US cities) and Detroit, MI has 650,499 (25th of 477).

How do Buffalo, NY and Detroit, MI compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Buffalo, NY $50,041 (390th of 434), Detroit, MI $39,938 (426th of 434) among US cities. Buffalo, NY ranks better.

How do Buffalo, NY and Detroit, MI compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?

Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Buffalo, NY $164,200 (53rd of 434), Detroit, MI $83,900 (3rd of 434) among US cities. Detroit, MI ranks better.

Where does Buffalo, NY beat Detroit, MI most clearly?

Buffalo, NY ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 97.8 vs 102.6; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 19.9 vs 24.8; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 31.2% vs 18.1%.

Where does Detroit, MI beat Buffalo, NY most clearly?

Detroit, MI ranks far ahead on Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $52,080 vs $50,790; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $83,900 vs $164,200; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $69,210 vs $66,480.

Buffalo, NY vs Detroit, MI

Buffalo, NY comes out ahead of Detroit, MI on 30 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 7. Buffalo, NY leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.

37 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Buffalo, NY

Wins: 30
Avg. percentile: 43
Categories led: 2

Detroit, MI

Wins: 7
Avg. percentile: 30
Categories led: 0

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.

Statistic	Buffalo, NY	Detroit, MI
Population	274,006 81st of 477	650,499 25th of 477
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$50,041 390th of 434	$39,938 426th of 434
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$164,200 53rd of 434	$83,900 3rd of 434
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	26.0% 404th of 434	32.7% 428th of 434
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	95.8 176th of 460	100.3 tied 256th of 460
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$66,480 217th of 460	$69,210 tied 175th of 460
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,046 93rd of 434	$1,074 109th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	729.4 323rd of 395	1,649.1 393rd of 395

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

EconomicsBuffalo, NY · 14 statistics
Crime & SafetyBuffalo, NY · 5 statistics

Biggest differences

The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.

Statistic	Buffalo, NY	Detroit, MI
Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	97.8 tied 120th of 460	102.6 tied 381st of 460
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	19.9 121st of 434	24.8 283rd of 434
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	31.2% 258th of 434	18.1% 400th of 434
Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	729.4 323rd of 395	1,649.1 393rd of 395
Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	95.8 176th of 460	100.3 tied 256th of 460
Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$50,790 202nd of 460	$52,080 tied 138th of 460
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	88.5% 340th of 434	85.7% 397th of 434
Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	81.0 140th of 460	94.7 tied 196th of 460
Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	10.9 338th of 395	25.7 384th of 395
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$164,200 53rd of 434	$83,900 3rd of 434
Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	422.2 330th of 395	630.2 375th of 395
Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)	$66,480 217th of 460	$69,210 tied 175th of 460
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$50,041 390th of 434	$39,938 426th of 434
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	582.9 363rd of 395	971.1 389th of 395
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	26.0% 404th of 434	32.7% 428th of 434
Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	129.5 364th of 460	107.0 tied 343rd of 460
Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI)	3,377.9 346th of 395	3,882.2 362nd of 395
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)	$1,046 93rd of 434	$1,074 109th of 434
Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)	99.7 tied 280th of 460	98.8 tied 277th of 460

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Buffalo, NY or Detroit, MI?: Buffalo, NY comes out ahead of Detroit, MI on 30 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 7. Buffalo, NY leads on Economics and Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Buffalo, NY or Detroit, MI?: Buffalo, NY has a population of 274,006 (81st of 477 US cities) and Detroit, MI has 650,499 (25th of 477).
How do Buffalo, NY and Detroit, MI compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Buffalo, NY $50,041 (390th of 434), Detroit, MI $39,938 (426th of 434) among US cities. Buffalo, NY ranks better.
How do Buffalo, NY and Detroit, MI compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?: Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Buffalo, NY $164,200 (53rd of 434), Detroit, MI $83,900 (3rd of 434) among US cities. Detroit, MI ranks better.
Where does Buffalo, NY beat Detroit, MI most clearly?: Buffalo, NY ranks far ahead on Price Level (Other Services) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 97.8 vs 102.6; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 19.9 vs 24.8; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 31.2% vs 18.1%.
Where does Detroit, MI beat Buffalo, NY most clearly?: Detroit, MI ranks far ahead on Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $52,080 vs $50,790; Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $83,900 vs $164,200; Average Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $69,210 vs $66,480.

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