What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Syracuse has the most affordable homes ($138k 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	Syracuse
People
Population	276,854Highest	146,384Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	+2.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.3±0.5Highest 14% below NY	31.8±0.4Lowest 20% below NY
Kids under 18	22.3%±0.6Highest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±0.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	14.2%±0.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	14.4%±0.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Syracuse and Buffalo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.2% NY: 40.2%	31.2% NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.5%±0.5Lowest NY: 7%	16.8%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,041±$2kHighest 42% below NY	$47,819±$2kLowest 44% below NY
	Buffalo and Syracuse 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	$138,400±$5kLowest 67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,046±$18Highest 35% below NY	$1,039±$20Lowest 36% below NY
	Buffalo and Syracuse are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,622Lowest 75% below NY	$3,210Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.4%±2.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Syracuse 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%	28.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43%Highest NY: 54.3%	41.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1948Highest 11 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 39% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	11.3%±0.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	12%±1.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Syracuse 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	#472 of 484 in NY
School district	BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH (OMH) · SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HUTCHINSON CENTRAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL	HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.3Highest
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.