Buffalo vs Toledo: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Buffalo, NY and Toledo, OH, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricBuffalo, NYToledo, OH
Population276,688269,962
Median household income$46,184$45,405
Median home value$132,100$98,800
Median rent (/mo)$942$854

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Buffalo, NY and Toledo, OH comes down to what you value most. Toledo has the lower median home value, and Toledo has the lower median rent.

Buffalo has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Buffalo or Toledo?
By median home value, Toledo is the cheaper of the two ($98,800 vs $132,100). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Buffalo or Toledo?
Median household income is $46,184 in Buffalo versus $45,405 in Toledo, per the US Census Bureau.

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