Fayetteville Buffalo-Cheektowaga

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Fayetteville to Buffalo-Cheektowaga is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 92.0 to 95.8 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $92/mo.

+$11,776
BLS median salary higher in Buffalo-Cheektowaga
365 to 380
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
15.8:1 to 11.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$4,382
DOL infant care higher / yr in Buffalo-Cheektowaga

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 92.0 → 95.8
Rent Delta: +$92/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $12K higher median salary
  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - 4% higher cost of living
  • - $92/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 92.0 to 95.8 (ratio 1.04), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $92/mo ($1,104/yr) from $1,251 in Fayetteville to $1,343 in Buffalo-Cheektowaga.

Fayetteville still leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, the origin keeps the edge. Buffalo-Cheektowaga sits #189 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Fayetteville is #123/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $11,776 higher ($62,837 → $74,613). Labor-market size: 121,490 tracked jobs at origin vs 524,180 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: North Carolina scores 68 (C, #13/51) vs New York at 46 (F, #46/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Fayetteville
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 92.0
RPP 95.8
Fayetteville
Rent (2BR)
$1,251/mo
$1,343/mo
Fayetteville
Wages
$62,837
$74,613
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
Crime
365 per 100K
380 per 100K
Fayetteville
Schools
15.8:1
11.8:1
Buffalo-Cheektowaga
Childcare
$9,487/yr
$13,869/yr
Fayetteville
Environment
3120 violations
5536 violations
Fayetteville

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · North Carolina
68 C #13/51
Income tax
68
Property tax
66
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
30
Destination state · New York
46 F #46/51
Income tax
80
Property tax
48
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
96

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fayetteville to see what you'd need to earn in Buffalo-Cheektowaga to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga
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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026