01 · the cities
Buffalo
Buffalo invented the wing (Anchor Bar, 1964, midnight, blue cheese, celery, not negotiable) and that should tell you most of what you need to know about the city's spirit. The Bills Mafia jumps through tables in subzero parking lots. Niagara Falls is 20 minutes away. The architecture (Sullivan, Wright, Olmsted parks) is genuinely world-class. The snow is part of the local mythology and the locals wear it proudly.
full dispatch→Akron
Akron was the Rubber City (Goodyear, Firestone, BFGoodrich all built here), and the legacy still shapes its industrial bones. LeBron James is from Akron and never forgets it. The Goodyear blimp is based in town. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is just north, with waterfalls and rail-trails. Cheaper than Cleveland, with its own quiet charm.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,374/mo
$1,259/mo
$115/mo less than Buffalo (9%)
Median home price
Median home price
$280k
$236k
$43k less than Buffalo
State income tax
State income tax
5.9%
4.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,472/mo
$6,742/mo
Akron has $270/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
152 days
152 days
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
42 days
40 days
days below 20°F per year
Buffalo and Akron have remarkably similar weather profiles overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
66 / 100
65 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
20 routes
11 routes
9 fewer direct routes than Buffalo
Metro size
Metro size
1.2M metro
698k metro
Buffalo has 2.1x more events per month than Akron.
the verdict
1
Buffalo
categories won
4
Akron
categories won
Akron wins this comparison, leading on money.
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