What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buffalo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Buffalo	Rochester
People
Population	276,854Highest	208,772Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	+0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.3±0.5Highest 14% below NY	33.7±0.5Lowest 15% below NY
	Buffalo and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±0.6Highest NY: 20.5%	20.9%±0.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	14.2%±0.5Highest NY: 17.9%	13.1%±0.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	30%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.5%±0.5Lowest NY: 7%	8.8%±0.6Highest NY: 7%
	Rochester and Buffalo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,041±$2kHighest 42% below NY	$47,213±$2kLowest 45% below NY
	Buffalo and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,200±$5kHighest 61% below NY	$139,600±$5kLowest 67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,046±$18Lowest 35% below NY	$1,081±$16Highest 33% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,622Lowest 75% below NY	$3,152Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.3%±2.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Rochester and Buffalo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	26%Lowest NY: 14%	27.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43%Highest NY: 54.3%	38.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 21 yrs older than NY	1938 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 39% below NY	19 minLowest 41% below NY
Work from home	11.3%±0.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.5%±1.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Rochester and Buffalo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#455 of 484 in NY	#458 of 484 in NY
School district	BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	EXPLORATION ELE CS - SCIENCE-TECHNOL · ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HUTCHINSON CENTRAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL	EDISON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	8.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.