If you are thinking about visiting Buffalo and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
Lets deep dive into the some crime statistics and crime rates and see how safe or dangerous Buffalo really is.
Is Buffalo, NY safe?
Statistically speaking, Buffalo is a slightly unsafe city. In 2021, Buffalo had a violent crime rate of 811.92 per 100,000 residents, which is 2 times greater than the national average and its property crime rate of 2,816.13 per 100,000 residents is 1.4 times greater than the national average.
Does Buffalo have a high crime rate?
Buffalo has a moderately high crime rate and is similar to cities like Atlanta, Dallas and Tucson. Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Buffalo’s crime rate:
Buffalo, NY crime rate breakdown
Violent Crime Rate
In 2021 Buffalo reported 2,269 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 811.92 per 100,000 residents. Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Year over year violent crime has decreased 12%.
You have a 1 in 123 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Buffalo.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in Buffalo over a 12 year period.
Buffalo’s Murder Rate
In 2021, Buffalo reported 67 murders and had a murder rate of 23.97 per 100,000 residents. Buffalo’s murder rate is nearly 3.7 times greater than the national average.
Year over year murder has increased by 10%.
You have a 1 in 4,171 chance of becoming a victim of murder in Buffalo.
Here’s a graph showing you how murders have trended over the last 12 years in Buffalo.
Here’s a table you showing the murder rates of 15 major cities in the United States. Buffalo has a similar murder rate to Oakland and Houston.
|
Murder Rate |
35.4 |
|
Milwaukee | 33.53 |
32.2 |
|
29.3 |
|
28.6 |
|
Buffalo | 23.97 |
20.3 |
|
16.1 |
|
11.5 |
|
11 |
|
10.6 |
|
8.7 |
|
Austin | 8.5 |
6.3 |
|
5.7 |
|
4.1 |
|
3.1 |
Buffalo’s Property Crime Rate
In 2021 Buffalo reported 7,870 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,816.13 per 100,000 residents. Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Year over year property crime has increased 0.3%.
You have a 1 in 36 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Buffalo.
Here’s a graph showing you how property crime has trended in Buffalo over a 12 year period.
Buffalo’s crime rate vs other cities in NY (2020)
Here’s a graph showing you how Buffalo’s crime rate compares to other cities in NY. Buffalo had the highest crime rate of all the cities listed in 2020.
Name |
Population |
Violent Crime Rate (2020) |
Buffalo |
278,349 |
931.21 |
Albany |
99,224 |
875.80 |
Syracuse |
148,620 |
802.05 |
211,328 |
794.97 |
|
Schenectady |
67,047 |
698.02 |
New York |
8,804,190 |
544.73 |
Mount Vernon |
73,893 |
516.96 |
Utica |
65,283 |
456.47 |
Yonkers |
211,569 |
308.65 |
Cheektowaga |
76,829 |
281.14 |
New Rochelle |
79,726 |
185.64 |
Buffalo’s Crime Rate Comparison
Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Buffalo’s violent crime rate is 3.6 times less than Monroe, Louisiana, the most dangerous city on the list.
How are Buffalo, NY crime rates calculated?
Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
For example, in 2021 there were 2,269 violent crimes in Buffalo and the population was 279,462. This equals a crime rate of 811.92 per 100,000 residents.
Buffalo, NY Crime Stats
The most recent, complete set of crime statistics comes from the Buffalo Police Department and are for 2020 and 2021:
|
2020 |
2021 |
% Change |
Murder |
61 |
67 |
10% |
Rape |
53 |
37 |
-30% |
Robbery |
680 |
601 |
-12% |
Aggravated Assault |
1,798 |
1,564 |
-13% |
Violent Offense Total |
2,592 |
2,269 |
-12% |
Burglary |
1,146 |
1,258 |
10% |
Larceny |
5,508 |
5,372 |
-2% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
1,190 |
1,240 |
4% |
Property Offense Total |
7,844 |
7,870 |
0% |
Total Index Offenses |
10,436 |
10,139 |
-3% |
How much has crime increased in Buffalo?
In 2021, Buffalo reported 10,139 total crimes, which is a 3% decrease over 2020.
In 2021, Buffalo reported 2,269 violent crimes, which is a 12% decrease over 2020.
In 2021, Buffalo reported 67 murders, which is a 10% increase over 2020.
In 2021, Buffalo reported 7,870 property crimes, which is a 0.3% increase over 2020.
Areas to avoid in Buffalo, NY
- Fruit Belt
- MLK Park
- Schiller Park
- Masten Park
- Kingsley
- Cold Springs
- Broadway
- Fillmore
- Kensington Heights
- Grider
Is Downtown Buffalo Safe?
Downtown Buffalo is generally a safe area to visit. At night you should avoid straying too far outside of the downtown areas, as those areas are sketchy.
Is the public transportation in Buffalo safe?
The public transportation system in Buffalo is handled by the NFTA-Metro and it offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city.
The buses are generally a safe option to use during normal commuting hours (7am – 6pm), however we recommend that you use a taxi or ride sharing service outside of those hours. At night there are less people using the public transit and it can get sketchy.
Is Buffalo safe at night?
Buffalo is generally safe at night as long as you stay out of the problem areas mentioned above (East Buffalo).
Be aware that streets and squares that are perfectly safe to visit in the daytime can be questionable and sketchy at night.
Learn the layout of the city and figure out which parts are good and which parts are bad and plan your trip accordingly.
What do residents of Buffalo say about it’s safety?
- " Buffalo runs the gamut in terms of safet. There are good areas of Buffalo, the bad areas are plagued by poverty and crime and then you have the suburbs which are safe and pleasant."
- "I have never worried for my safety while living here. There are a few places I wouldn’t go, but most of the city is relatively safe if you keep your wits about you."
- "My experience living in Buffalo has been good. There are pockets of the city that harbor criminal activity, but if you don’t get involved in drugs or gangs, then you shouldn’t have to worry too much."
- "Generally speaking, the east side of Buffalo has a ton of violent activity. That’s where the majority of it is located."
- "In Buffalo, you’ll know when you are entering a bad neighborhoods, its very gradual and not abrubt like a few other cities."
- "Much of the crime in Buffalo is concentrated in a large section of the city (east side) and unless you live there, you have very little reason to go there."
Tips to stay safe while visiting Buffalo
- Research the city before you arrive. Learn which parts of the city are good and which parts are sketchy and plan your trip with this knowledge.
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Stay off your cellphone and keep your eyes and ears open for any potential dangers.
- Always walk with confidence and purpose. Criminals like to target individuals who meek or unsure of themselves.
- Avoid walking through desolate and unlit areas at night. Stay in places where there are people around.
- Don’t travel by yourself late at night.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car or in plain sight in your car.
- Don’t park in desolate areas or areas that are not well lit. Consider using parking garages when visiting.
Facts about Buffalo, NY
- The population of Buffalo in 2021 was 279,462 and is the 76th most populous city in the United States.
- The city covers a land area of 40.38 square miles.
- 85.7% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 28.6% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- The median income for a household in the city was $39,677. The per capita income for the city was $25,654.
- 28.3% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Buffalo is $180,000 in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Buffalo 2-bedroom apartment is $1,200.
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