City comparison
No. Buffalo's crime index is 221 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 216 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,046 in Buffalo.
Climate is the sharpest divide between St Louis and Buffalo. St Louis averages 58°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 $997 versus $1,046.
St Louis is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, 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 St Louis is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Buffalo has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Louis and Buffalo are 661 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,046 a month in Buffalo, up $49 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $50,041 in Buffalo, down $6,119 (11%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 221 in Buffalo, down 131 points (37%).
The move
Buffalo and St Louis are 661 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,046 a month in Buffalo to $997 a month in St Louis, down $49 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $50,041 in Buffalo to $56,160 in St Louis, up $6,119 (12%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Buffalo to 352 in St Louis, up 131 points (59%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
St Louis rent is 5% cheaper than Buffalo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Buffalo
$1,046/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,046 in Buffalo, so St Louis is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $49, or $588 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
St Louis's median income is 12% higher than Buffalo
St Louis
Winner$56,160
Buffalo
$50,041
Median household income is $56,160 in St Louis versus $50,041 in Buffalo, so typical pay runs 12% higher in St Louis (about $6,119 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, St Louis 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
37% lower crime
Buffalo's crime index is 37% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Buffalo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Buffalo's crime index is 221 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
St Louis weather is 45% more comfortable than Buffalo
St Louis
Winner58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Buffalo
49°F avg · 55°F highs · comfort 55/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Buffalo averages about 49°F (55°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°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. St Louis scores 45% 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
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 12% higher ($56,160), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 58°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 better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than St Louis (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
Safety is the widest gap: Buffalo scores 36/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis. Rent is $1,046/month in Buffalo and $997/month in St Louis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (36/100 in Buffalo vs 22/100 in St Louis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $56,160 in St Louis versus $50,041 in Buffalo.
Between St Louis and Buffalo, Buffalo is ahead on safety — 36/100 safety versus 22/100. Lean St Louis instead when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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