Buffalo, New York
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Buffalo, NY.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Buffalo, NY?
For relocators asking how much Buffalo costs: the housing index sits at 62 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $152,300 and rents near $989. Local median income is about $48,050 and unemployment recently ran 4.3% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 21 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 990.7 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 62U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $152,300U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $989U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $48,050U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.3%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 21 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 990.7per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 78°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Buffalo compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 276,617City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $48,050Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year39% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 62ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year38% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $152,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year50% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $989City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year27% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.3%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 21 min16% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6851% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 990.7per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)77% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 3245.4per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)8% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 78°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 21°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 40.7 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals23% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 199As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals26% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Buffalo grew 5.9% from 261,275 in 2010 to 276,617 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Buffalo, NY expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Buffalo's housing cost index is 62 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($152,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($989 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 62 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $152,300 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $989 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Buffalo, NY?
Typical ownership costs center near $152,300, while median gross rent is about $989 a month. Against a median household income of $48,050, rent alone is roughly 25% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $152,300
- Median rent $989/month
- Median household income $48,050
What is the job market like in Buffalo, NY?
County unemployment recently ran 4.3% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Buffalo is about $48,050 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.3% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $48,050
How long is the typical commute in Buffalo, NY?
Average one-way commute time is about 21 minutes, with Walk Score near 68/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 21 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 68/100
Is Buffalo, NY safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 990.7 per 100k and property about 3245.4 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 990.7 per 100k
- Property 3245.4 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Buffalo, NY?
Normals show summer highs near 78°F, winter lows near 21°F, about 40.7 inches of rain, and roughly 199 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 78°F
- Winter low 21°F
- 40.7 in rain · 199 sunny days
Buffalo, New York counts about 276,617 residents inside the city limits. Households here report a median income near $48,050; our housing-derived cost index is about 62 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs). Entry home prices around $152,300 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Snow-belt Upstate and transit-heavy downstate markets feel like different worlds. Pack for 78°F summer peaks; winter mornings often settle near 21°F. Commutes average near 21 minutes one-way, with walkability near 68/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 4.3% for the surrounding county. FBI CIUS Table 8 violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~990.7 per 100k), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
Buffalo is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Buffalo with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Buffalo city, 1600000US3611000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Erie County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014733 BUFFALO) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19