City profile
Buffalo, NY
Affordable Great Lakes city with stunning architecture, a strong Black community and Niagara Falls nearby.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
26°F
Summer avg
72°F
Sunny days / yr
160
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$200,000
Typical monthly housing
$1,451
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
92
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.54%
- State income tax (top)
- 10.9%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.53%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 98/100
Top hazards: Cold wave, Winter weather, Riverine flooding
Nearest major airport
8 mi to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 52% Democratic / 46% Republican
Demographics (Census ACS)
Population (2024)
276,854
Growth since 2019
+7.9%
Median age
34.3
Residents 65+
14.2%
Median household income
$50,041
Income growth since 2019
+34.0%
Black household income
$39,217
Home ownership
43.0%
Poverty rate
26.0%
Poverty rate, 65+
19.2%
Race & ethnicity: Black 31.3% · White 42.4% · Hispanic 12.3% · Asian 8.7% · Other 5.3%
Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2025)
Violent crime
729 · 121% above the national average
Property crime
3,449 · 122% above the national average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, Buffalo Police Department. State average: violent 368, property 1,566.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving NY than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: winter storms, high taxes
Highlights
- Very affordable homes
- Niagara Falls nearby
- Strong Black community
Trade-offs
- Snowy winters
- Higher property taxes
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.