Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Buffalo, NY

    Is Buffalo a good place to live?

    Watch Buffalo

    Buffalo ranks #36 of 66 New York cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (47/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $152,300
    +15.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $989
    per month
    Household income
    $48,050
    median
    Unemployment
    7.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Buffalo

    The median home value in Buffalo is $152,300 and median rent is $989 a month, against a median household income of $48,050. Homes cost about 3.2× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Buffalo crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across New York the 2025 rate was 368 violent and 1,567 property crimes per 100,000 people — #18 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Buffalo, NY

    Buffalo has about 276,397 residents, 7.2% unemployment and 17% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Buffalo with

    Buffalo vs New YorkBuffalo vs RochesterBuffalo vs YonkersBuffalo vs SyracuseBuffalo vs AlbanyBuffalo vs New RochelleBuffalo vs CheektowagaBuffalo vs Mount Vernon

    More: Where to move in New York · Best counties in New York

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report