

Buffalo, NY vs Syracuse, NY
Buffalo, NY comes out ahead of Syracuse, NY on 17 of 32 statistics where one end is better, to 13 with 2 ties. Syracuse, NY leads on Economics and Crime & Safety.
32 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
- 17
- Avg. percentile
- 42
- Categories led
- 0
- Wins
- 13
- Avg. percentile
- 40
- Categories led
- 2
At a glance
Headline statistics, each ranked among all US cities.
| Statistic | Buffalo, NY | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 274,006 81st of 477 | 144,220 190th of 477 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $50,041 390th of 434 | $47,819 401st of 434 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $164,200 53rd of 434 | $138,400 29th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 26.0% 404th of 434 | 28.8% 420th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.8 176th of 460 | 95.7 174th of 460 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $66,480 217th of 460 | $67,470 190th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,046 93rd of 434 | $1,039 91st of 434 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 729.4 323rd of 395 | 612.1 293rd of 395 |
By category
Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.
- EconomicsSyracuse, NY · 14 statistics
- Crime & SafetySyracuse, NY · 5 statistics
Biggest differences
The 19 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 239 US cities.
| Statistic | Buffalo, NY | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $50,790 202nd of 460 | $52,990 129th of 460 |
| Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 19.9 121st of 434 | 18.0 59th of 434 |
| Burglary Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 422.2 330th of 395 | 534.0 360th of 395 |
| Murder Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 10.9 338th of 395 | 8.9 308th of 395 |
| Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 729.4 323rd of 395 | 612.1 293rd of 395 |
| Average Annual Wage, All JobsAverage Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS) | $66,480 217th of 460 | $67,470 190th of 460 |
| Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $164,200 53rd of 434 | $138,400 29th of 434 |
| Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 26.0% 404th of 434 | 28.8% 420th of 434 |
| Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $50,041 390th of 434 | $47,819 401st of 434 |
| Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 88.5% 340th of 434 | 88.1% 350th of 434 |
| Property Crime Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 3,377.9 346th of 395 | 3,205.8 337th of 395 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate (per 100K)Crime Rates by City (FBI) | 582.9 363rd of 395 | 558.6 357th of 395 |
| Price Level (Utilities)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 129.5 364th of 460 | 133.4 367th of 460 |
| Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | $1,046 93rd of 434 | $1,039 91st of 434 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census) | 31.2% 258th of 434 | 31.2% 256th of 434 |
| Price Level (All Items)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 95.8 176th of 460 | 95.7 174th of 460 |
| Price Level (Housing Rents)Cost of Living by City (Metro Price Parities) | 81.0 140th of 460 | 80.7 139th 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 Syracuse, NY?
- Buffalo, NY comes out ahead of Syracuse, NY on 17 of 32 statistics where one end is better, to 13 with 2 ties. Syracuse, 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 Syracuse, NY?
- Buffalo, NY has a population of 274,006 (81st of 477 US cities) and Syracuse, NY has 144,220 (190th of 477).
- How do Buffalo, NY and Syracuse, NY compare on Median Household Income?
- Median Household Income: Buffalo, NY $50,041 (390th of 434), Syracuse, NY $47,819 (401st of 434) among US cities. Buffalo, NY ranks better.
- How do Buffalo, NY and Syracuse, NY compare on Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)?
- Median Home Value (Capped at $2M): Buffalo, NY $164,200 (53rd of 434), Syracuse, NY $138,400 (29th of 434) among US cities. Syracuse, NY ranks better.
- Where does Buffalo, NY beat Syracuse, NY most clearly?
- Buffalo, NY ranks far ahead on Burglary Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 422.2 vs 534.0; Poverty Rate (%) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 26.0% vs 28.8%; Median Household Income (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): $50,041 vs $47,819.
- Where does Syracuse, NY beat Buffalo, NY most clearly?
- Syracuse, NY ranks far ahead on Median Annual Wage, All Jobs (Average Wage by City (Metro Area, BLS)): $52,990 vs $50,790; Average Commute (Minutes) (Housing, Income and Commutes by City (Census)): 18.0 vs 19.9; Murder Rate (per 100K) (Crime Rates by City (FBI)): 8.9 vs 10.9.
More matchups
Other comparisons with Buffalo, NY or Syracuse, NY.