Cleveland receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Cleveland
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
Opportunity
67 · Top 28%
vs55 · Bottom 48%
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs35 · Bottom 26%
Climate
69 · Top 41%
vs62 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
97 · Top 1%
vs80 · Top 15%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 29%
vs99 · Top 34%
Access
87 · Top 30%
vs97 · Top 12%
Economic stability
64 · Top 34%
vs61 · Top 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Cleveland | Buffalo-Cheektowaga | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,171,526 | 1,161,343 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,678 | $72,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,136 | $42,074 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 804/sq mi | 742/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $215,400 | $226,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,050 | $1,057 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.5% | 66.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 4.1% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.2% | -0.8% | July 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.1% | 36.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 13.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 4,287 | 1,422 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 24.1% | 18.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.3" | 40.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Cleveland
76
Your Score
76
Area Score
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
70
Your Score
67
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Cleveland, OH Metro Area · Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology