Share

Buffalo, NY vs Niagara Falls, NY Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Buffalo crime rate · Niagara Falls crime rate

Moving from Buffalo, NY to Niagara Falls, 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.

Get the planner →

Is Buffalo, NY or Niagara Falls, NY Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Niagara Falls, NY is safer than Buffalo, NY (Safety Score 15/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 3,309 per 100,000 versus 4,517 for Buffalo, NY — 27% lower. Buffalo has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Niagara Falls has a 49% lower rate.

Note: Buffalo is 5.8x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Buffalo, NY?

Buffalo — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Niagara Falls — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Buffalo, NY

Buffalo, NY
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 273,728
Total Crime Rate 4,516.5
Category Wins 0/7

Niagara Falls, NY

Niagara Falls, NY
Safety Score 15/100
Coverage 47,296
Total Crime Rate 3,309.0
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Buffalo Niagara Falls Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,516.5 3,309.0 +1,207.6
Violent Crime Rate 706.9 501.1 +205.8
Murder Rate 12.4 6.3 +6.1
Rape Rate 43.5 8.5 +35.0
Robbery Rate 157.8 93.0 +64.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 492.5 393.3 +99.2
Property Crime Rate 3,809.6 2,807.9 +1,001.8
Burglary Rate 438.0 327.7 +110.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,573.4 2,188.4 +385.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 798.2 291.8 +506.5

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

Moving from Buffalo, NY to Niagara Falls, 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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buffalo or Niagara Falls safer?

Niagara Falls, NY is safer with a total crime rate of 3,309 per 100K vs 4,517 for Buffalo, NY — a 27% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Buffalo has a violent crime rate of 706.9 per 100K while Niagara Falls has 501.1. Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls, NY

Niagara Falls, NY, home to the iconic Horseshoe Falls, is a city in Western New York with a population of over 47,000. It was once a major industrial hub, particularly for electrochemical production. With a safety score of 15/100 and a population coverage of 47,296, Niagara Falls has a total crime rate of 3,309.0 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons