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City guide · New York

Moving to Buffalo, NY

Wings, snow, very low housing, revitalizing.

Pop. 278kCost index 96.5 · 100 = US avgMedian rent $1,100/moMedian home $175kWalk score 67

Buffalo (metro area) has an overall price level 96.5 (US avg = 100). Housing dominates the difference.

Overall price index
96.5
Housing index
122.2
Groceries index (modeled)
99.1
Utilities index (modeled)
99.5
Electricity rate
28.6 ¢/kWh
Transportation index (modeled)
99.3
Median home value (est.)
$175,000
Median monthly rent (est.)
$1,100/mo

Sources: BLS LAUS 2026-04 · Census ACS 2024 (live) state-level

New York unemployment is 4.6% with median household income $86k.

Unemployment rate
4.6%
Median household income
$85,820
Per-capita income
$51,002
Labor-force participation
63.0%
Right-to-work state
No
Nurse Licensure Compact
Non-member

Sources: FEMA NRI 2025 · Census ACS 2024 (live) city-level

Buffalo: median home value $175,000.

Home value
$175,000
Rent
$1,100/mo
Homeownership rate
54.0%
Natural-hazard risk (FEMA county avg)
69/100
Hurricane exposure
Low
Wildfire exposure
Low
Tornado risk
Low
Earthquake risk
Low

New York 4th-grade math proficiency: 36.6% at/above NAEP proficient.

4th-grade math proficiency
36.6%
Per-pupil spending
$26,051
Student–teacher ratio (est.)
19
Public 4-yr grad rate
56.0%
Notable universities
Columbia, Cornell, NYU

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