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D

Is Buffalo, New York Safe?

Population 274,613 · Safer than 17% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Buffalo runs high. The city's D grade puts it below 83% of US cities, with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,607 per 100K.

Buffalo Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBuffaloNew York AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate305.7320.4363.8
Property Crime Rate2343.12030.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate188.0--268.2
Theft Rate1607.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate297.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

264.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

306/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2343/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Buffalo

Violent crime in Buffalo is below the national average. The rate of 305.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2343.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,607 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Buffalo Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault188
070% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery73
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary447
01.7x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,607
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft297
093% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Buffalo Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Buffalo
305.7
State
320.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Buffalo
2343.1
State
2030.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buffalo Safety

Is Buffalo safe?
Not especially. Buffalo earns a D with a crime rate of 264.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Buffalo?
264.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 305.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2343.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Buffalo safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Buffalo's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,607 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Buffalo?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Buffalo generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Buffalo police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Buffalo?
No. Crime in Buffalo has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Buffalo compare to other cities in New York?
Below average for the state. Buffalo ranks behind about 74% of New York cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Buffalo to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Buffalo?
Bad. A D grade and 264.9 per-thousand rate put Buffalo below 83% of US cities. Violent crime at 306 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Buffalo?
305.7 per 100,000, which is 16% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (188), robbery (73), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in New York

Similar-sized communities in New York. Compare crime rates across the state.

D-
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D
See crime rates in Rochester206,108 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Syracuse144,896 pop · Grade D-
D
See crime rates in Albany101,698 pop · Grade D
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See crime rates in New Rochelle85,864 pop · Grade D-
C-
See crime rates in Mount Vernon72,304 pop · Grade C-
View all New York city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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