Compare towns
Rochester vs Buffalo vs Ramapo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Buffalo has the oldest population (median age 34.3).
Ramapo has the most expensive homes ($653k 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.
| Measure | Rochester | Buffalo | Ramapo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 208,772 |
276,854Highest |
152,401Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+6.5% NY: +4.2% |
+17.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5 15% below NY |
34.3±0.5Highest 14% below NY |
25.1±0.5Lowest 37% 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 | 20.9%±0.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.3%±0.6 NY: 20.5% |
39.8%±0.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±0.5 NY: 17.9% |
14.2%±0.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.9%±0.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
31.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
30.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.8%±0.6Highest NY: 7% |
8.5%±0.5 NY: 7% |
5.2%±0.4Lowest 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 | $47,213±$2kLowest 45% below NY |
$50,041±$2k 42% below NY |
$82,463±$4kHighest 4% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$5kLowest 67% below NY |
$164,200±$5k 61% below NY |
$653,100±$18kHighest 54% above NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$16 33% below NY |
$1,046±$18Lowest 35% below NY |
$1,787±$53Highest 10% above NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,152 52% below NY |
$1,622Lowest 75% below NY |
$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±2.1 NY: 52.1% |
52.3%±2.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66.5%±3.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 27.8%Highest NY: 14% |
26%Lowest NY: 14% |
26.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
43% NY: 54.3% |
54.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 41% below NY |
20 min 39% below NY |
26 minHighest 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.5%±1.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.3%±0.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.3%±1Lowest 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 | #458 of 484 in NY | #455 of 484 in NY | #385 of 484 in NY |
| School district | EXPLORATION ELE CS - SCIENCE-TECHNOL · ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | EAST RAMAPO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (SPRING VALLEY) · SUFFERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | EDISON CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL | HUTCHINSON CENTRAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL | RAMAPO HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
12.5 |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.