Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Buffalo to Phoenix
The 2024 ACS 5-year estimates reveal Buffalo’s median household income of $50,041 supports lower housing costs—$1,046 median gross rent and $164,200 median home value—with a 22-minute commute. Phoenix reports higher income at $81,332 but elevated housing: $1,582 rent and $420,700 home value, alongside a 28-minute commute and a 2.50% state income tax reference in the model. Buffalo offers lower housing burden relative to income; Phoenix trades higher income for greater housing expenses and longer commutes, with tax modeled as a flat rate. Neither city dominates across all factors; the trade-off depends on whether prioritizing income, housing affordability, commute time, or tax exposure.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → BuffaloMoving from Buffalo to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
+$536/mo
Moving to Phoenix costs ~$6,432 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
+6 min / day
Difference of ~50 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTBUF → PHX
52/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$3,152after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference
Watch closelyThe $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above Dallas despite similar commute time
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Buffalo is about $6,432 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Buffalo household income$50,041
Phoenix household income$81,332
Buffalo gross rent$1,046
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Buffalo | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 276,854 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $50,041 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,046 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $164,200 | $420,700 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 2.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 22 minutes in Buffalo and 28 minutes in Phoenix. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- One-way commute time
- State income tax reference in model
What each city wins
Buffalo
Affordability uncertain. Watch housing costs vs income.
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
Frequently asked questions
How does housing affordability compare between Buffalo and Phoenix relative to income?
Buffalo’s median gross rent is 25% of its median household income, while Phoenix’s is 23%, indicating similar rent burden despite Phoenix’s higher absolute costs; home values show Buffalo’s median is 3.3 times income versus Phoenix’s 5.2 times, suggesting greater relative home affordability in Buffalo.
What role does commute time play in the livability trade-off between these cities?
Buffalo’s 22-minute average commute is 6 minutes shorter than Phoenix’s 28 minutes, offering time savings that may offset differences in income or housing costs, particularly for workers valuing daily schedule efficiency over higher earnings or larger homes.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.