Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Buffalo, NY has a Safety Score of 5/100 — higher crime than 94% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,516.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,808 of 2,971 US cities and #129 of 132 in New York.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Buffalo, New York Safe?
Buffalo, a city on Lake Erie, boasts a rich industrial past and stunning architecture by masters like Frank Lloyd Wright. As the second-largest city in New York, it experiences distinct seasons, including significant snowfall.
Buffalo has a safety score of 5/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,516.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Buffalo ranks #129 out of 132 cities in New York and #2808 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 6th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 94% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Buffalo is motor vehicle theft, at 798.2 per 100K — 2.3x the national average.
Year over year, Buffalo's total crime rate decreased by 8.6%, with violent crime declining 6.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,935 | 706.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 34 | 12.4 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 119 | 43.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 432 | 157.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,348 | 492.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 10,428 | 3,809.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 1,199 | 438.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 7,044 | 2,573.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2,185 | 798.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Buffalo vs New York Average
How does Buffalo's crime rate compare to the New York state average?
| Metric | Buffalo | New York Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 706.9 | 528.5 | +33.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,809.6 | 2,205.9 | +72.7% |
| Murder Rate | 12.4 | 3.8 | +228.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,516.5 | 2,734.4 | +65.2% |
Buffalo Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Buffalo, New York.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 273,728 | 4,516.5 | 706.9 | 3,809.6 |
| 2023 | 275,922 | 4,939.1 | 754.9 | 4,184.2 |
| 2022 | 275,710 | 4,011.8 | 775.8 | 3,236.0 |
| 2021 | 253,809 | 4,055.8 | 958.6 | 3,097.2 |
| 2020 | 254,627 | 4,361.3 | 1,054.5 | 3,306.8 |
| 2019 | 255,686 | 4,236.1 | 990.7 | 3,245.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buffalo, New York safe?
Buffalo has a safety score of 5/100, meaning it has less crime than about 5% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,516.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Buffalo is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Buffalo, New York?
According to FBI data for 2024, Buffalo has a violent crime rate of 706.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,809.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Buffalo compare to the national average?
Buffalo's total crime rate of 4,516.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 273,728 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Buffalo?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Buffalo include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Buffalo safe to visit?
Like any city, Buffalo has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 5/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.