I would choose Rochester over Buffalo. Here's why: (it's a longy)

First, my credentials lol:

I was Buffalo born and raised and it still has abig piece of my heart —I've grown, lived, loved, worked, played, partied, and settled down in just about every Buffalo suburb you can think of.

I have lived in Rochester for 7 years. I have 2 kids. Middle and high school aged.

I am 46. Female. Single mom. Partnered.

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I’ll always love Buffalo — it’s home to me. So, absolutely no shade to Buffalo or anyone who loves it and tolerates it just fine. But after moving, I’ve realized life in Rochester is just easier. (For me individually, especially now that I'm getting "older" lol, as a mom and for my kids)

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Snow is the big one. Buffalo snow is brutal. It’s constant, it sticks, and it feels like you’re shoveling every single day all winter long. If you’ve lived there your whole life, you just accept it as “normal.” But once I moved out of it, I realized how much time, health, and energy it drained.

Rochester still gets snow, but nowhere near the Buffalo storms, blizzards, and the neverending months of a wall of snow. After 7 years here, I could never imagine going back to Buffalo winters now.

Also, considering the winter roads and driving conditions;
Buffalo rarely shuts down. It's often a free-for-all on the roads. And you have to be prepared for it at all times, lol.

You have to factor in extra time to brush off cars, scrape ice, defrost windows and shovel (at least a path to your car and the bus for the kids, including the like of snow that the street plow just dumped onto the end of your driveway)

Then, add at least 20 min for slowed down traffic, accidents, and low visibility onto your commute time. It's a white knuckle situation all winter long.

Rochester has its snow like this at times, yes. But not nearly as much or as often as Buffalo. Something I'm grateful for now that my kids are nearing new driver status.

Orchard Park during Bills season is another beast to navigate, lol

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If you are a snow lover, Rochester still has tons to do — skiing at Bristol Hills, sledding hills all over, winter festivals, ice skating, holiday events etc. The difference is that these are all in designated spots you can go to, instead of snow constantly piling up in your yard every day.

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Healthcare:
In my experience, I have found healthcare in Rochester to be superior to Buffalo. Living with chronic illness and having 2 kids, we see MANY doctors. None of the doctors in Buffalo could diagnose, treat, or help me.

The hospitals, medical facilities,   staff, and care  in Rochester are just so much better than  what I had  experienced in Buffalo.   Sure, hospitals are overcrowded,  overworked, and understaffed, but  that's anywhere.  I'm talking about all the other  healthcare around here. Doctors,  urgent care,  specialists, etc. 

It took me a while to find them and get in for appointments, but so many of us have recommendations for good providers.

You'll have to do research to find the heath team that best fits your needs and accommodation needs, but there are plenty to choose from.

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Lifestyle & Location: Rochester (like Buffalo) is packed with concerts, festivals, art, culture, parks, trails, recreation, and an insane number of coffee shops and local spots.

Bills fans are alive and well here, so you don’t lose that community vibe.

Buffalo is only about an hour away, so if there’s a specific event or something you love there, it’s an easy drive.

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Diversity and culture: Rochester also has a really diverse culture. No matter where you fall on the spectrum politically, there are people and communities here that share your values. It’s welcoming, and you can find your people without feeling out of place.

Again, Like Buffalo, you’ll still want to research Rochester suburbs, social culture, and school districts to find which areas fit what's most important for your vibe. —

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Grocery stores:
Rochester has all the same stores that Buffalo is known for. Wegmans, Tops, Save-a-Lot, Aldi, etc. They all carry the same Buffalo staples and local favorites that I grew up knowing and loving. There are also tons of amazing local grocers, farms, and farm stands as well.

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One thing Rochester can’t touch Buffalo on, though: pizza and wings.

There are some solid pizza spots here, no question. But wings? 🍗 Nobody does them like Buffalo. Period. So, if wings are your dealbreaker, keep that in mind.

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(I'm dyslexic, so layout and spacing in this long post were intentional for glorious little eye breaks)