The typical owner-occupied home in Buffalo is worth about $164,200, 61% below the New York median of $423,800 and 51% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,622 a year in property taxes, about 0.99% of their home's value, lower than the New York rate of 1.55%. The median household earns $50,041 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (4.9 times for New York). 43% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 51% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Buffalo at a glance
| Buffalo | New York | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,200 | $423,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,622 | $6,582 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.99% | 1.55% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $50,041 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 43% | 54% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 51% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,207 | $2,555 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.3% | 22.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,046 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 31.4% | 31.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1938 | 1959 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 12.6% | 10.0% | 10.1% |
| Population | 276,854 | 19,852,366 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Buffalo
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Buffalo home of $164,200 with 20% down costs about $1,088 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,361, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $46,609 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Buffalo household income of $50,041; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $176,000.
The median rent here is $1,046 a month, so owning the median home costs about $42 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $32,840 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $131,360 |
| Principal and interest | $884 |
| Property taxes (0.99% a year) | $135 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $68 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,088 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,747 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $161,226 |
| Principal and interest | $1,085 |
| Property taxes (0.99% a year) | $135 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $68 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $73 |
| Total per month | $1,361 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Buffalo
What is the median home value in Buffalo?
About $164,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Buffalo?
Homeowners pay a median $1,622 a year, which is about 0.99% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Buffalo?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,088 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $46,609 a year.
More about Buffalo
- Mortgage Refinance in Buffalo
- Debt Relief in Buffalo
- Home Equity Loans in Buffalo
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data