City comparison
No. Buffalo's crime index is 221 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Buffalo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,046 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Memphis and Buffalo. Memphis averages 68°F while Buffalo averages 49°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,181 versus $1,046.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Buffalo costs less and Memphis 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 crime gap is citywide. Buffalo has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Buffalo are 802 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,046 a month in Buffalo, down $135 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $50,041 in Buffalo, down $1,695 (3%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 221 in Buffalo, down 274 points (55%).
The move
Buffalo and Memphis are 802 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,046 a month in Buffalo to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $135 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $50,041 in Buffalo to $51,736 in Memphis, up $1,695 (3%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Buffalo to 495 in Memphis, up 274 points (124%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Buffalo rent is 11% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Buffalo
Winner$1,046/mo
Typical rent runs $1,046 a month in Buffalo versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Buffalo is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,620, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Buffalo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Memphis.
Planning to buy in Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Memphis's median income is 3% higher than Buffalo
Memphis
Winner$51,736
Buffalo
$50,041
Median household income is $51,736 in Memphis versus $50,041 in Buffalo, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Memphis (about $1,695 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
55% lower crime
Buffalo's crime index is 55% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Buffalo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Buffalo's crime index is 221 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
82% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 82% more comfortable than Buffalo
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Buffalo
49°F avg · 55°F highs · comfort 55/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Buffalo averages about 49°F (55°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Buffalo averages around 49°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis 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
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 3% higher ($51,736), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°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 11% 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 55% lower than Memphis (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Buffalo: Buffalo scores 36/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,046 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 25 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (36/100 in Buffalo vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,046 in Buffalo and $1,181 in Memphis.
Pick Buffalo when you want the stronger safety signal (36/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Buffalo, plus other cities in TN and NY.
