Buffalo NY vs Jonesboro AR — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Buffalo, NY

New York · Population: 276,397

  • Median HH Income$48,050
  • Median Home Price$241,380
  • Unemployment7.2%
  • Bachelor's+30.3%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$225,577
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Buffalo
276,397
Jonesboro
N/A
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Buffalo
N/A
Jonesboro
N/A
Median Age
Buffalo
34.3
Jonesboro
N/A
Foreign Born
Buffalo
10.5%
Jonesboro
N/A
White
Buffalo
45.4%
Jonesboro
N/A
Black
Buffalo
32.9%
Jonesboro
N/A
Asian
Buffalo
8.2%
Jonesboro
N/A
Hispanic
Buffalo
12.7%
Jonesboro
N/A
Spanish at Home
Buffalo
N/A
Jonesboro
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Buffalo
$48,050
Jonesboro
N/A
Per Capita Income
Buffalo
$30,995
Jonesboro
N/A
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Buffalo
$77,425
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
$53,714
Unemployment Rate
Buffalo
7.2%
Jonesboro
N/A
Poverty Rate
Buffalo
27.4%
Jonesboro
N/A
Bachelor's Degree+
Buffalo
30.3%
Jonesboro
N/A

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Buffalo
$241,380
Jonesboro
$225,577
Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate
Buffalo
42.7%
Jonesboro
N/A

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Buffalo
434
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
660
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Buffalo
1736
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
2507

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Buffalo
38.4%
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
39.2%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Buffalo
13.4%
Jonesboro
11.4%
Jonesboro +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Buffalo
19.1%
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
20.5%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Buffalo
9.4%
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
11.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Buffalo
16.3%
Jonesboro
15.1%
Jonesboro +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Buffalo
16.5%
Jonesboro
15.7%
Jonesboro +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Buffalo
48.3°F
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
59.2°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Buffalo
40.5 in
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
48.2 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Buffalo
8.1 µg/m³
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
9.5 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Buffalo
75.0%
Buffalo +
Jonesboro
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Buffalo
21.6 min
Jonesboro
N/A

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Buffalo is safer with a violent crime rate of 434 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Buffalo has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Buffalo scores better with a lower obesity rate of 38.4%.

Compare More Cities

About Buffalo & Jonesboro