Population

Lansing

112,546

Buffalo

276,397

Median Income

Lansing

$52,170

Buffalo

$48,050

Home Value

Lansing

$119,400

Buffalo

$152,300

Rent

Lansing

$976

Buffalo

$989

Crime Rate

Lansing

6.67

Buffalo

7.07

Cost of Living

Lansing

88.9

Buffalo

86.7

Avg Temp

Lansing

N/A

Buffalo

N/A

Unemployment

Lansing

8.1%

Buffalo

7.2%

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How Similar Are Lansing & Buffalo?

Buffalo is Lansing's #12 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Lansing

112,546

vs

Buffalo

276,397

Different · 59% difference

Buffalo (276,397) is about 2.5x larger than Lansing (112,546).

Violent Crime

Lansing

6.67

vs

Buffalo

7.07

Match · 6% difference
🚨

Both cities have similar violent crime — just a 6% difference.

Property Crime

🔒

Lansing

45.80

vs

Buffalo

38.10

Different · 17% difference

Lansing has a 17% higher property crime than Buffalo.

Political Leaning

Lansing

50.8%

vs

Buffalo

45.2%

Different · 11% difference
🗳️

Lansing leans Republican while Buffalo leans Democratic.

Unemployment

💼

Lansing

8.1%

vs

Buffalo

7.2%

Different · 11% difference

Lansing has a 11% higher unemployment than Buffalo.

Median Income

Lansing

$52,170

vs

Buffalo

$48,050

Match · 8% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 8% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Lansing

$119,400

vs

Buffalo

$152,300

Different · 22% difference

Buffalo has a 22% higher home values than Lansing.

Education

Lansing

19.6%

vs

Buffalo

20.2%

Match · 3% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 3% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Lansing

56.1%

vs

Buffalo

45.4%

Different · 19% difference

Lansing has a 19% higher demographics than Buffalo.

Cost of Living

Lansing

88.9

vs

Buffalo

86.7

Match · 2% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 2% difference.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Lansing and Buffalo share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Lansing

vsof 8

0

Buffalo

Cost of Living & Affordability — Buffalo leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Lansing has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,012 vs $1,139 in Buffalo (11% lower). Buffalo scores 73.5 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 78.1 in Lansing. Lansing has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,268 vs $1,343 in Buffalo (6% lower).

Overall Cost Index

Lansing88.9
Buffalo86.7

Housing Index

Lansing94.9
Buffalo96.0

Food Index

Lansing89.9
Buffalo86.7

Transportation Index

Lansing78.1
Buffalo73.5

Healthcare Index

Lansing91.9
Buffalo89.4

Utilities Index

Lansing92.9
Buffalo91.2

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Lansing$39,097
Buffalo$38,156

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Lansing$92,410
Buffalo$90,188

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Lansing$1,012
Buffalo$1,139

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Lansing$1,268
Buffalo$1,343

Housing Market — Lansing leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Lansing has a single-family homes of 67.2% compared to 39.5% in Buffalo. Buffalo has a median property tax of $1,625 vs $2,574 in Lansing (58% lower). Lansing has a vacancy rate of 8.1% compared to 12.4% in Buffalo.

Median Home Value

Lansing$119,400
Buffalo$152,300

Median Rent

Lansing$976
Buffalo$989

Median Property Tax

Lansing$2,574
Buffalo$1,625

Owner-Occupied

Lansing53.9%
Buffalo42.7%

Vacancy Rate

Lansing8.1%
Buffalo12.4%

Single-Family Homes

Lansing67.2%
Buffalo39.5%

Jobs & Economy — Lansing leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Buffalo: 132,325 vs Lansing: 61,151 for labor force. Lansing has a work from home of 13.2% compared to 9.6% in Buffalo. Lansing has a poverty rate of 19.9% compared to 27.4% in Buffalo.

Median Household Income

Lansing$52,170
Buffalo$48,050

Per Capita Income

Lansing$29,894
Buffalo$30,995

Poverty Rate

Lansing19.9%
Buffalo27.4%

Unemployment Rate

Lansing8.1%
Buffalo7.2%

Labor Force

Lansing61,151
Buffalo132,325

Mean Commute

Lansing17 min
BuffaloN/A

Work from Home

Lansing13.2%
Buffalo9.6%

Private Sector

Lansing85.3%
Buffalo82.0%

Government Sector

Lansing40.1%
Buffalo38.4%

Crime & Safety — Buffalo leads

Source: FBI UCR

Lansing has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.00 compared to 0.12 in Buffalo. Lansing has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.76 compared to 1.58 in Buffalo. Buffalo has a property crime clearance of 10.0% compared to 4.9% in Lansing.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Lansing6.67
Buffalo7.07

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Lansing45.80
Buffalo38.10

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Lansing0.00
Buffalo0.12

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Lansing0.76
Buffalo1.58

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Lansing4.91
Buffalo4.92

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Lansing4.66
Buffalo4.38

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Lansing34.98
Buffalo25.73

Violent Crime Clearance

Lansing26.4%
Buffalo39.3%

Property Crime Clearance

Lansing4.9%
Buffalo10.0%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

LansingN/A
BuffaloN/A

Avg Annual High

LansingN/A
BuffaloN/A

Avg Annual Low

LansingN/A
BuffaloN/A

Sunny Days per Year

LansingN/A
BuffaloN/A

Annual Rainfall

LansingN/A
BuffaloN/A

Annual Snowfall

LansingN/A
BuffaloN/A

Avg Humidity

LansingN/A
BuffaloN/A

Schools & Education — Buffalo leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Buffalo has a high school diploma or higher of 38.3% compared to 36.2% in Lansing. Buffalo has a bachelor's degree or higher of 20.2% compared to 19.6% in Lansing.

Public Schools

Lansing0
Buffalo0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

LansingN/A
BuffaloN/A

Colleges & Universities

Lansing0
Buffalo0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Lansing19.6%
Buffalo20.2%

High School Diploma or Higher

Lansing36.2%
Buffalo38.3%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Buffalo has a population of 276,397, about 2.5x the size of Lansing (112,546).

Population

Lansing112,546
Buffalo276,397

Median Age

Lansing34
Buffalo34

Avg Household Size

Lansing2.2
Buffalo2.2

Married Population

Lansing28.9%
Buffalo25.3%

Foreign Born

Lansing10.1%
Buffalo10.5%

White

Lansing56.1%
Buffalo45.4%

Black

Lansing23.4%
Buffalo32.9%

Hispanic

Lansing12.9%
Buffalo12.7%

Asian

Lansing5.3%
Buffalo8.2%

Lansing

Buffalo

Healthcare

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Lansing: 4 vs Buffalo: 3 for with emergency services. Buffalo: 2.7 vs Lansing: 2.5 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Lansing5
Buffalo5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Lansing2.5
Buffalo2.7

With Emergency Services

Lansing4
Buffalo3

Transportation & Commute — Lansing leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Buffalo has a public transit of 8.5% compared to 3.3% in Lansing. Lansing has a bicycle of 0.9% compared to 0.6% in Buffalo. Lansing has a work from home of 13.2% compared to 9.6% in Buffalo.

Mean Commute Time

Lansing17 min
BuffaloN/A

Drive Alone

Lansing67.3%
Buffalo64.5%

Public Transit

Lansing3.3%
Buffalo8.5%

Bicycle

Lansing0.9%
Buffalo0.6%

Work from Home

Lansing13.2%
Buffalo9.6%

Airports

Lansing0
Buffalo0

Cities Similar to Lansing, MI

Compare Lansing against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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