City comparison
Yes. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 221 in Buffalo, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Buffalo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,046 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Colorado Springs and Buffalo is significant: $84,818 median household versus $50,041. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,046 in Buffalo.
Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs and Buffalo are 1,378 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,046 a month in Buffalo, down $602 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $50,041 in Buffalo, down $34,777 (41%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 221 in Buffalo, up 21 points (11%).
The move
Buffalo and Colorado Springs are 1,378 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,046 a month in Buffalo to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $602 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $50,041 in Buffalo to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $34,777 (69%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Buffalo to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 21 points (10%).
Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs and Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Buffalo rent is 37% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Buffalo
Winner$1,046/mo
Typical rent runs $1,046 a month in Buffalo versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Buffalo is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $602/month back in your pocket ($7,224/year). Over five years that's $36,120 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 Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
69% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 69% higher than Buffalo
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Buffalo
$50,041
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $50,041 in Buffalo, so typical pay runs 69% higher in Colorado Springs (about $34,777 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, Colorado Springs 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
10% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 10% lower than Buffalo
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Buffalo
221 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 221 in Buffalo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Colorado Springs. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Colorado Springs, 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
31% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 31% more comfortable than Buffalo
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Buffalo
49°F avg · 55°F highs · comfort 55/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Buffalo averages about 49°F (55°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Buffalo averages around 49°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 31% 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 69% higher ($84,818), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Buffalo (200 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 37% 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
Colorado Springs posts $84,818 median household income against $50,041 in Buffalo. That 41% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,046 in Buffalo and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs still pays more locally ($84,818 median income vs $50,041), which can offset the lease if your field pays Colorado Springs rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Colorado Springs and 49°F in Buffalo.
Between Colorado Springs and Buffalo, Colorado Springs is ahead on local pay — $84,818 median income against $50,041. Lean Buffalo instead when keeping rent near $1,046/month beats chasing $84,818 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Buffalo, plus other cities in CO and NY.
