City comparison
No. Buffalo's crime index is 221 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Buffalo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,046 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The income gap between Denver and Buffalo is significant: $94,718 median household versus $50,041. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,831 in Denver and $1,046 in Buffalo.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Buffalo costs less and Denver pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Denver and Buffalo are 1,367 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,046 a month in Buffalo, down $785 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $50,041 in Buffalo, down $44,677 (47%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 221 in Buffalo, down 50 points (18%).
The move
Buffalo and Denver are 1,367 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,046 a month in Buffalo to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $785 a month (75%).
Median household income goes from $50,041 in Buffalo to $94,718 in Denver, up $44,677 (89%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Buffalo to 271 in Denver, up 50 points (23%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Buffalo rent is 43% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Buffalo
Winner$1,046/mo
Typical rent runs $1,046 a month in Buffalo versus $1,831 in Denver, so Buffalo is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $785/month back in your pocket ($9,420/year). Over five years that's $47,100 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 Denver, 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 Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
89% higher
Denver's median income is 89% higher than Buffalo
Denver
Winner$94,718
Buffalo
$50,041
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $50,041 in Buffalo, so typical pay runs 89% higher in Denver (about $44,677 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, Denver 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
18% lower crime
Buffalo's crime index is 18% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Buffalo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Buffalo's crime index is 221 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Buffalo. 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, Buffalo is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
42% more comfortable
Denver weather is 42% more comfortable than Buffalo
Denver
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Buffalo
49°F avg · 55°F highs · comfort 55/100
Denver averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Buffalo averages about 49°F (55°F highs). Denver averages around 57°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. Denver scores 42% 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 89% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
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.
Buffalo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Denver (221 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
Denver posts $94,718 median household income against $50,041 in Buffalo. That 47% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,046 in Buffalo and $1,831 in Denver.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $50,041), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Weather averages land near 57°F in Denver and 49°F in Buffalo.
Between Denver and Buffalo, Denver is ahead on local pay — $94,718 median income against $50,041. Lean Buffalo instead when keeping rent near $1,046/month beats chasing $94,718 median income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Buffalo?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Buffalo when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Buffalo, plus other cities in CO and NY.
