City comparison
Yes. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 221 in Buffalo, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Buffalo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,046 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
The income gap between Aurora and Buffalo is significant: $88,368 median household versus $50,041. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,835 in Aurora and $1,046 in Buffalo.
Aurora is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Buffalo makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Aurora is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Buffalo at $1,046 average has pockets that run $846 and others at $1,446: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Buffalo are 1,359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,046 a month in Buffalo, down $789 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $50,041 in Buffalo, down $38,327 (43%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 221 in Buffalo, up 9 points (4%).
The move
Buffalo and Aurora are 1,359 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,046 a month in Buffalo to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $789 a month (75%).
Median household income goes from $50,041 in Buffalo to $88,368 in Aurora, up $38,327 (77%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Buffalo to 212 in Aurora, down 9 points (4%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Buffalo, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Buffalo rent is 43% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Buffalo
Winner$1,046/mo
Typical rent runs $1,046 a month in Buffalo versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Buffalo is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $789/month back in your pocket ($9,468/year). Over five years that's $47,340 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Aurora, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Buffalo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Aurora? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
77% higher
Aurora's median income is 77% higher than Buffalo
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Buffalo
$50,041
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $50,041 in Buffalo, so typical pay runs 77% higher in Aurora (about $38,327 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Aurora is the stronger labor market on paper. Buffalo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
4% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 4% lower than Buffalo
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Buffalo
221 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 221 in Buffalo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Aurora. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Aurora, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Buffalo. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
62% more comfortable
Aurora weather is 62% more comfortable than Buffalo
Aurora
Winner61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Buffalo
49°F avg · 55°F highs · comfort 55/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Buffalo averages about 49°F (55°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Buffalo averages around 49°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Aurora scores 62% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Buffalo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 77% higher ($88,368), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Aurora is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Buffalo (212 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Buffalo
Buffalo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,046 a month. Choose Buffalo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Aurora runs $1,835/month while Buffalo sits at $1,046 — roughly 43% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Aurora-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Buffalo rent at $1,046/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 49°F in Buffalo.
Buffalo is the default on housing cost at $1,046/month versus $1,835 in Aurora; Aurora stays in play when $88,368 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $789 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Buffalo, plus other cities in CO and NY.
