Buffalo, NY vs Rochester, NY
Rochester, NY comes out ahead of Buffalo, NY on 21 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 14 with 2 ties. Buffalo, NY leads on Economics. Rochester, NY leads on Crime & Safety.
37 statistics with a better end, compared
Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 2 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.
- Wins
- 14
- Avg. percentile
- 43
- Categories led
- 1
- Wins
- 21
- Avg. percentile
- 48
- Categories led
- 1
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Buffalo, NY | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 274,006 81st of 477 | 204,932 118th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $50,041 390th of 434 | $47,213 403rd of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $164,200 53rd of 434 | $139,600 30th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 26.0% 404th of 434 | 27.8% 414th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.8 176th of 460 | 97.0 194th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $66,480 217th of 460 | $67,420 193rd of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,046 93rd of 434 | $1,081 114th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 729.4 323rd of 395 | 567.4 282nd of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- Crime & SafetyRochester, NY · 5 statistics
- EconomicsBuffalo, NY · 14 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Buffalo, NY | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 422.2 330th of 395 | 278.6 251st of 395 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 3,377.9 346th of 395 | 2,760.8 298th of 395 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 88.5% 340th of 434 | 86.4% 388th of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 729.4 323rd of 395 | 567.4 282nd of 395 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 81.0 140th of 460 | 87.5 173rd of 460 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $164,200 53rd of 434 | $139,600 30th of 434 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $66,480 217th of 460 | $67,420 193rd of 460 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 582.9 363rd of 395 | 807.2 383rd of 395 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 19.9 121st of 434 | 19.3 100th of 434 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,046 93rd of 434 | $1,081 114th of 434 |
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $50,790 202nd of 460 | $51,210 182nd of 460 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 10.9 338th of 395 | 13.1 355th of 395 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.8 176th of 460 | 97.0 194th of 460 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 31.2% 258th of 434 | 30.0% 271st of 434 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $50,041 390th of 434 | $47,213 403rd of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 26.0% 404th of 434 | 27.8% 414th of 434 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 129.5 364th of 460 | 133.2 366th of 460 |
| Price Level (Goods)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 99.7 tied 280th of 460 | 99.7 tied 280th of 460 |
| Price Level (Other Services)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 97.8 tied 120th of 460 | 97.8 tied 120th of 460 |
Quick answers
- Which is better, Buffalo, NY or Rochester, NY?
- Rochester, NY comes out ahead of Buffalo, NY on 21 of 37 statistics where one end is better, to 14 with 2 ties. Buffalo, NY leads on Economics. Rochester, NY leads on Crime & Safety. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
- Which has more people, Buffalo, NY or Rochester, NY?
- Buffalo, NY has a population of 274,006 (81st of 477 US cities) and Rochester, NY has 204,932 (118th of 477).
- How do Buffalo, NY and Rochester, NY compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Buffalo, NY $50,041 (390th of 434), Rochester, NY $47,213 (403rd of 434) among US cities. Buffalo, NY ranks better.
- How do Buffalo, NY and Rochester, NY compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Buffalo, NY $164,200 (53rd of 434), Rochester, NY $139,600 (30th of 434) among US cities. Rochester, NY ranks better.
- Where does Buffalo, NY beat Rochester, NY most clearly?
- Buffalo, NY ranks far ahead on Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 88.5% vs 86.4%; Price Level (Housing Rents) (Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities)): 81.0 vs 87.5; Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 582.9 vs 807.2.
- Where does Rochester, NY beat Buffalo, NY most clearly?
- Rochester, NY ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 278.6 vs 422.2; Property Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 2,760.8 vs 3,377.9; Violent Crime Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 567.4 vs 729.4.
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