What’s the best part of Buffalo?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Buffalo are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Buffalo neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to New York and Buffalo is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Buffalo for 2024? According to the most recent census data, South Abbott looks to be the best Buffalo neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Buffalo that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Buffalo.
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Most Dangerous Places In New York
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Buffalo
Population: 3,476
Median Home Value: $122,600 (19th best)
Median Income: $80,316 (best)
More on South Abbott: Data | Real Estate
Population: 12,100
Median Home Value: $225,476 (12th best)
Median Income: $71,004 (Fifth best)
More on North Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,145
Median Home Value: $232,700 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $74,251 (Third best)
More on Starin Central: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,729
Median Home Value: $412,040 (Second best)
Median Income: $68,808 (Sixth best)
More on Albright: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,045
Median Home Value: $103,980 (24th best)
Median Income: $46,968 (15th best)
More on Hamlin Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,397
Median Home Value: $325,714 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $60,893 (11th best)
More on Delaware-West Ferry: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,865
Median Home Value: $250,233 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $76,898 (Second best)
More on Parkside: Data | Real Estate
Population: 12,235
Median Home Value: $197,789 (13th best)
Median Income: $41,665 (2best)
More on Front Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 9,331
Median Home Value: $231,118 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $61,585 (Ninth best)
More on Forest: Data | Real Estate
Population: 7,076
Median Home Value: $118,271 (2best)
Median Income: $68,309 (Seventh best)
More on Abbott Mckinley: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Buffalo, NY Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Buffalo, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 50 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Buffalo.” We’re lookin’ at you, South Abbott.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Buffalo, New York has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Buffalo.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Buffalo
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Buffalo where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Buffalo are South Abbott, North Park, Starin Central, Albright, Hamlin Park, Delaware-West Ferry, Parkside, Front Park, Forest, and Abbott McKinley.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Buffalo aren’t all good. Emerson takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Buffalo.
The worst neighborhoods in Buffalo are Emerson, Broadway-Fillmore, Babcock, Squaw Island, and Medical Park.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more New York reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
- Worst Places To Live In New York State
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Buffalo For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Abbott | 3,476 | $122,600 | $80,316 |
| 2 | North Park | 12,100 | $225,476 | $71,004 |
| 3 | Starin Central | 5,145 | $232,700 | $74,251 |
| 4 | Albright | 2,729 | $412,040 | $68,808 |
| 5 | Hamlin Park | 6,045 | $103,980 | $46,968 |
| 6 | Delaware-West Ferry | 6,397 | $325,714 | $60,893 |
| 7 | Parkside | 2,865 | $250,233 | $76,898 |
| 8 | Front Park | 12,235 | $197,789 | $41,665 |
| 9 | Forest | 9,331 | $231,118 | $61,585 |
| 10 | Abbott Mckinley | 7,076 | $118,271 | $68,309 |
| 11 | University | 5,334 | $120,567 | $56,623 |
| 12 | Bryant | 6,083 | $328,200 | $41,622 |
| 13 | South Park | 5,836 | $116,900 | $61,144 |
| 14 | Cazenovia Park | 5,098 | $93,060 | $40,789 |
| 15 | Columbus | 2,350 | $271,300 | $34,538 |
| 16 | Park Meadow | 3,361 | $268,100 | $72,990 |
| 17 | Grant Ferry | 7,396 | $167,853 | $58,566 |
| 18 | Kensington | 11,649 | $74,338 | $44,136 |
| 19 | Riverside Park | 11,251 | $71,100 | $28,679 |
| 20 | Lakeview | 4,139 | $195,367 | $26,270 |
| 21 | Allen | 3,045 | $257,525 | $41,923 |
| 22 | Seneca | 2,907 | $84,680 | $39,029 |
| 23 | Triangle | 3,806 | $85,160 | $50,160 |
| 24 | Delaware Park | 1,741 | $227,840 | $63,047 |
| 25 | Waterfront | 951 | $492,400 | $35,846 |
| 26 | Kaisertown | 5,454 | $73,667 | $44,263 |
| 27 | Black Rock | 6,883 | $127,562 | $40,531 |
| 28 | Lasalle | 9,088 | $91,614 | $42,032 |
| 29 | North Delaware | 2,232 | $158,943 | $44,597 |
| 30 | Leroy | 5,169 | $110,557 | $36,770 |
| 31 | Emslie | 1,521 | $74,175 | $32,854 |
| 32 | Kenfield | 7,136 | $58,729 | $36,236 |
| 33 | Tifft | 1,045 | $57,600 | $38,752 |
| 34 | Willert Park | 4,582 | $167,825 | $25,014 |
| 35 | First Ward | 1,201 | $51,100 | $28,750 |
| 36 | Kingsley | 2,652 | $55,525 | $33,976 |
| 37 | Military | 4,024 | $98,467 | $37,590 |
| 38 | Lovejoy | 6,127 | $57,822 | $32,108 |
| 39 | South Ellicott | 2,376 | $73,900 | $33,740 |
| 40 | Grider | 5,495 | $58,000 | $34,202 |
| 41 | Schiller Park | 10,298 | $51,136 | $28,852 |
| 42 | Valley | 685 | $44,050 | $27,932 |
| 43 | Masten Park | 2,465 | $65,150 | $24,229 |
| 44 | Mlk Park | 2,942 | $61,480 | $29,420 |
| 45 | Genesee Moselle | 3,764 | $40,050 | $27,957 |
| 46 | Medical Park | 2,102 | $31,100 | $32,992 |
| 47 | Squaw Island | 462 | $75,600 | $28,346 |
| 48 | Babcock | 3,029 | $47,550 | $24,532 |
| 49 | Broadway-Fillmore | 8,749 | $39,727 | $23,868 |
| 50 | Emerson | 2,108 | $50,600 | $23,804 |
