Buffalo

Most affordable Buffalo suburbs

Ranked on what a household actually pays: the in-house cost-of-living index at 55%, the median home value against the metro at 25% (lower is better here), and the share of households already stretched by housing costs at 20%.

Updated Sep 2026·13 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
The Niagara River seen from Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. From left to right: the Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls City (New York State), the Ame
Niagara Falls$115k median · 19.1 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing FEmployment F
68
Affordability
overall 45 D
2
A view over the downtown district of Lockport, New York as seen from a bench across from Lake Effect Ice Cream on Canal Street on a June 2021 evening. In the fo
Lockport$140k median · 23.6 min commute
Cost of living CHousing D−Employment D+
67
Affordability
overall 52 D+
3
A number of boats are docked to the North Tonawanda side of Gateway Harbor during a summer Canal Concert. This image was uploaded by Brandon Peterman, the photo
Tonawanda$174k median · 22.7 min commute
Cost of living C+Housing DEmployment D−
64
Affordability
overall 58 C
4
Photo of Lackawanna, NY City Hall. Located on Ridge Road at Victory Ave.
Lackawanna$141k median · 20.0 min commute
Cost of living C+Housing FEmployment F
61
Affordability
overall 44 D
5
Looking southward along the Tonawanda Rail Trail from the back end of Lincoln Park, Tonawanda, New York, 6th January 2020.
Tonawanda Town$215k median · 21.3 min commute
Cost of living CHousing C−Employment C
61
Affordability
overall 64 C+
6
Buffalo Niagara Airport
Cheektowaga$186k median · 20.6 min commute
Cost of living CHousing D+Employment C−
59
Affordability
overall 59 C
7
The skyline of downtown Buffalo, New York, pictured in 2023.
Buffalo$164k median · 19.9 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing FEmployment F
59
Affordability
overall 52 D+
8
Gateway Harbor along the Erie Canal in North Tonawanda, NY. This photo was taken about 1500 feet from the present day western terminus of the Erie Canal where i
North Tonawanda$197k median · 20.4 min commute
Cost of living CHousing DEmployment D
58
Affordability
overall 56 C−
9
Depew$197k median · 19.0 min commute
Cost of living C−Housing C−Employment C−
58
Affordability
overall 60 C
10
Knox Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 2595 Elmwood Avenue at Kinsey Avenue, Kenmore, New York, May 2021. A brown brick edifice with a Late Gothic Revival design
Kenmore$209k median · 18.5 min commute
Cost of living C−Housing C−Employment C+
58
Affordability
overall 65 C+
This list's weighting
Cost of living 55%Median home value (lower is better) 25%Cost-burdened households 20%
Other Buffalo lists
Best Buffalo suburbs for familiesBest Buffalo suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown BuffaloMost walkable Buffalo suburbsBest Buffalo suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Buffalo suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Niagara Falls (Nandaro · CC BY-SA 3.0); Lockport (Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0); Tonawanda (Brandon Peterman (Zyrshnikashnu at en.wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 3.0); Lackawanna (Shinerunner · CC BY-SA 3.0); Tonawanda Town (Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0); Cheektowaga (DanRother (talk) · Public domain); Buffalo (Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0); North Tonawanda (Joshua Karn · CC BY-SA 3.0); Kenmore (Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0).