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New York city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Buffalo?

What it costs to live in Buffalo, and how it compares with other New York cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

40

111th best value in New York

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New York cities.

Overall livability

34

110th overall in New York

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Buffalo is home to about 276,011 people. A typical home runs $112,900 and a household earns around $42,200, a price-to-income ratio of 2.7. Among New York's largest cities, it ranks 111th for value and 110th overall.

Buffalo at a glance

Median home price

$112,900

29th in NY of 135

Median rent

$849/mo

Median household income

$42,200

Home price to income

2.7x

Unemployment

7.7%

119th in NY of 135

School rating

2/10

122nd in NY of 135

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NY of 135

Walk score

33/100

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‹ See all top New York cities ranked  ยท  New York state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New York only. Updated 2026.