City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 221 in Buffalo, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Buffalo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,046 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Buffalo and Irving. Buffalo averages 49°F while Irving averages 70°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,046 versus $1,619.
Irving 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 Irving 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
Buffalo and Irving are 1,203 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,046 a month in Buffalo to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $573 a month (55%).
Median household income goes from $50,041 in Buffalo to $81,830 in Irving, up $31,789 (64%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Buffalo to 99 in Irving, down 122 points (55%).
The move
Irving and Buffalo are 1,203 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,046 a month in Buffalo, down $573 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $50,041 in Buffalo, down $31,789 (39%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 221 in Buffalo, up 122 points (123%).
Buffalo, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Buffalo and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Buffalo rent is 35% cheaper than Irving
Buffalo
Winner$1,046/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,046 a month in Buffalo versus $1,619 in Irving, so Buffalo is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $573/month back in your pocket ($6,876/year). Over five years that's $34,380 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 Irving, 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
64% higher
Irving's median income is 64% higher than Buffalo
Buffalo
$50,041
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $50,041 in Buffalo, so typical pay runs 64% higher in Irving (about $31,789 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, Irving 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
55% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 55% lower than Buffalo
Buffalo
221 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 221 in Buffalo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Irving. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Irving is the easier city. Buffalo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
82% more comfortable
Irving weather is 82% more comfortable than Buffalo
Buffalo
49°F avg · 55°F highs · comfort 55/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Buffalo averages about 49°F (55°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Buffalo averages around 49°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving scores 82% 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
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 35% 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.
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 64% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than Buffalo (99 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Irving: Irving scores 60/100 versus 36/100 in Buffalo, with typical rent at $1,619 versus $1,046. I would vet the exact ZIP in Buffalo before trading 24 safety points for housing savings.
Irving still pays more locally ($81,830 median income vs $50,041), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irving rates.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $50,041 in Buffalo.
Pick Irving when you want the stronger safety signal (60/100). Otherwise, Buffalo's case rests on a Buffalo ZIP you trust at $1,046 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Buffalo and Irving, plus other cities in NY and TX.
