Buffalo, NY vs Columbus, OH
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Buffalo
74.2
#613 nationally
Columbus
76.5
#341 nationally
Buffalo leads in walk score (66 vs 41). Columbus leads in school rating (6.8 vs 4.6). Columbus leads in median household income ($62,889 vs $42,891).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.2 (#613) | 76.5 (#341) |
| Population | 276,807 | 913,175 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $249,040 | $248,686 |
| Median Household Income | $42,891 | $62,889 |
| Average Commute | 22.4 min | 23.1 min |
| Walk Score | 66 | 41 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | Moderate |
| School Rating | 4.6 | 6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 93 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+9.7 | D+28.4 |
C
74.2 Score
Buffalo, NY
Queen City rising
Median Home
$249,040
Population
276,807
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Northeast
View Buffalo, NY →
C
76.5 Score
Columbus, OH
Ohio's capital city on the rise
Median Home
$248,686
Population
913,175
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Midwest
View Columbus, OH →
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