Buffalo, NY vs Raleigh, NC
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
Raleigh
71
#1035 nationally
Buffalo leads in walk score (66 vs 31). Raleigh leads in median household income ($82,424 vs $42,891). Raleigh leads in school rating (7.5 vs 4.6).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.2 (#613) | 71 (#1035) |
| Population | 276,807 | 470,763 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $249,040 | $435,237 |
| Median Household Income | $42,891 | $82,424 |
| Average Commute | 22.4 min | 24.3 min |
| Walk Score | 66 | 31 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 32.0 |
| School Rating | 4.6 | 7.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+9.7 | D+25.6 |
C
74.2 Score
Buffalo, NY
Queen City rising
Median Home
$249,040
Population
276,807
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Northeast
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C-
71 Score
Raleigh, NC
Research Triangle innovation hub
Median Home
$435,237
Population
470,763
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
Southeast
View Raleigh, NC →