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Buffalo, NY

College town · College teaching jobs 1.6x the U.S. share

Harris Hill is part of the Buffalo area. This page covers the whole metro.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Buffalo

Albany County vehicles assisting with snow removal in the aftermath of the December blizzard, Michigan Avenue, Buffalo, New York
Albany County vehicles assisting with snow removal in the aftermath of the December blizzard, Michigan Avenue, Buffalo, New York · Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Albright Knox Art Gallery
Albright Knox Art Gallery · Photo: Dave Pape, Public domain
Allentown
Allentown · Photo: Buffaboy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Amherst St Station
Amherst St Station · Photo: Buffaboy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Buffalo, NY skyline
Buffalo, NY skyline · Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Buffalo State Overhead
Buffalo State Overhead · Photo: Dekema, CC BY-SA 4.0
Buffalo Wings at Airport Anchor Bar
Buffalo Central Terminal, Paderewski Drive, Broadway Fillmore, Buffalo, NY
Buffalo Central Terminal, Paderewski Drive, Broadway Fillmore, Buffalo, NY · Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Buffalo City Hall, Interior, thirteenth floor, council chamber
Buffalo City Hall, Interior, thirteenth floor, council chamber · Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey, Public domain
Canalside
Canalside · Photo: Invest Buffalo Niagara, CC0
City Honors frontview
City Honors frontview · Photo: Red Alien at en.wikipedia, Public domain
Key Bank Center side view from Main Street at Prime Street, Buffalo, New York
Key Bank Center side view from Main Street at Prime Street, Buffalo, New York · Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Where it is
Buffalo
Buffalo in New York
New York in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Buffalo area.

34
grocery stores
200+
restaurants
64
coffee shops
165
parks
155
playgrounds
18
libraries
4
movie theaters
21
live theaters
16
museums
25
bookstores
15
gyms
99
bars
15
pharmacies
10
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What rent costs

Of about 160,771 rented homes in the Buffalo area, 95% rent for under $2,000 a month and 99% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 50%
$1,000 to $1,499: 35%
$1,500 to $1,999: 10%
$2,000 to $2,499: 3%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 1%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in the Buffalo area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $2,000 to $2,998 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Public schools

28 public school districts in this county, with about 110,293 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Buffalo City School District · Buffalo
30,124 students · 10.2 students per teacher · 60 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District · Buffalo
6,509 students · 10.2 students per teacher · 9 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Williamsville Central School District · East Amherst
9,717 students · 11.3 students per teacher · 13 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
West Seneca Central School District · West Seneca
6,148 students · 12.2 students per teacher · 9 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Lancaster Central School District · Lancaster
5,459 students · 12.8 students per teacher · 7 schools · grades K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$291,683
What a typical home sells for across the Buffalo area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Cost of living
About 4% below the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $96 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 95.8 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Average commute
22 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
2 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 7.8 miles from the town center. The largest is about 42,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $1,683 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in NY. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Median household income
$71,175
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
2.08% of home value a year
About $2,080 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 10.90%
NY's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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