Buffalo, NY vs Houston, TX
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
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Buffalo leads in walk score (66 vs 48). Houston leads in median household income ($57,791 vs $42,891). Buffalo leads in average commute (22.4 min vs 28.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.2 (#613) | 72.1 (#926) |
| Population | 276,807 | 2,314,157 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $249,040 | $263,563 |
| Median Household Income | $42,891 | $57,791 |
| Average Commute | 22.4 min | 28.5 min |
| Walk Score | 66 | 48 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | Moderate-High |
| School Rating | 4.6 | 5.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 96 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+9.7 | D+5.5 |
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-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →