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Buffalo, NY vs Ithaca, NY Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Buffalo crime rate · Ithaca crime rate

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Is Buffalo, NY or Ithaca, NY Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Ithaca, NY is safer than Buffalo, NY (Safety Score 14/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 3,412 per 100,000 versus 4,517 for Buffalo, NY — 24% lower. Buffalo has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Ithaca has a 76% lower rate.

Note: Buffalo is 8.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Buffalo, NY?

Buffalo — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Ithaca — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Buffalo, NY

Buffalo, NY
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 273,728
Total Crime Rate 4,516.5
Category Wins 1/7

Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, NY
Safety Score 14/100
Coverage 33,646
Total Crime Rate 3,412.0
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Buffalo Ithaca Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,516.5 3,412.0 +1,104.5
Violent Crime Rate 706.9 196.2 +510.8
Murder Rate 12.4 3.0 +9.5
Rape Rate 43.5 17.8 +25.6
Robbery Rate 157.8 47.6 +110.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 492.5 127.8 +364.7
Property Crime Rate 3,809.6 3,215.8 +593.8
Burglary Rate 438.0 329.9 +108.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,573.4 2,838.4 -265.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 798.2 47.6 +750.7

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Buffalo, NY to Ithaca, NY?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buffalo or Ithaca safer?

Ithaca, NY is safer with a total crime rate of 3,412 per 100K vs 4,517 for Buffalo, NY — a 24% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Buffalo has a violent crime rate of 706.9 per 100K while Ithaca has 196.2. Ithaca has lower violent crime.

About Buffalo, NY

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. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 273,728, Buffalo has a total crime rate of 4,516.5 per 100,000 residents.

About Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, home to Cornell University, is a city nestled in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. Its dramatic gorges and waterfalls are a defining geographic feature, and its population is relatively young due to the presence of two colleges. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 33,646, Ithaca has a total crime rate of 3,412.0 per 100,000 residents.

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