Buffalo, NY vs Waukee, IA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Buffalo
74.2
#613 nationally
Waukee
77.3
#263 nationally
Waukee leads in median household income ($106,846 vs $42,891). Buffalo leads in cost of living index (88 vs 106). Waukee leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 22.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Waukee, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.2 (#613) | 77.3 (#263) |
| Population | 276,807 | 31,645 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $249,040 | $343,274 |
| Median Household Income | $42,891 | $106,846 |
| Average Commute | 22.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Walk Score | 66 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 3.9 |
| School Rating | 4.6 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+9.7 | R+4.8 |
Data coverage note: Waukee is missing data for 1 metric that Buffalo has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C
74.2 Score
Buffalo, NY
Queen City rising
Median Home
$249,040
Population
276,807
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Northeast
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C+
77.3 Score
Waukee, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$343,274
Population
31,645
Crime
Low
Median Income
$106,846
Midwest
View Waukee, IA →