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Living in
Niagara Falls.
About
Life in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls offers affordable housing and a short commute—median home values around $115,000 and average commute times under 20 minutes make it accessible if you're working locally or in Buffalo. But you need to be realistic about what you're getting. This is a city still working through decades of economic loss and population decline.
Niagara Falls at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.7%
Foreign-Born
5.2%
Broadband Internet
87.2%
of households
Population Growth
-3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.2% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Niagara Falls: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Niagara Falls, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (14.3%), and 3.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
18.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.9%
of households
Married Couples
28.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.09
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 49% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Niagara Falls
In Niagara Falls, rent runs 49% below the NY average, and home values are 73% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,786
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1949
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $172,546 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts above NY average
Unemployment in Niagara Falls and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Niagara Falls is 1.3 percentage points higher than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Niagara Falls Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY metro area
Commute19.1 min avg
How Niagara Falls residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Niagara Falls, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG)
Regional airport · few flights68k passengers boarded in 2025
- 19 mi
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Niagara Falls runs 45% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
478.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,513.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Niagara Falls Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Niagara County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Niagara County, which includes Niagara Falls, the most common type is high wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | High Wind | $5,500 |
| 2024 | 8 | High Wind | $41,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,500 |
| 2022 | 9 | Winter Storm | $102,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | High Wind | $430,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Frost/Freeze | $52,000 |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.9M |
| 2018 | 8 | High Wind | $147,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Niagara County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Niagara County, which includes Niagara Falls, is typically good — 328 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
328
per year
Moderate Days
24
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Niagara County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Niagara Falls has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.7"
Annual Snowfall
72.4"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
139
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
158
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 2.59" |
| Feb | 35°F | 19°F | 2.10" |
| Mar | 43°F | 26°F | 2.44" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.10" |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 3.14" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 2.99" |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 3.38" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 2.80" |
| Sep | 74°F | 54°F | 3.25" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.27" |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 2.89" |
| Dec | 39°F | 25°F | 2.76" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mount St. Mary's Hospital & Health Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Lewiston
Kenmore Mercy Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.4 mi away · Kenmore
Buffalo Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · 13.2 mi away · Buffalo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Niagara Falls (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 5,097 students · in-state tuition $8,533 · 47% graduate · median earnings $55,028 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,685 students · in-state tuition $35,880 · 68% graduate · median earnings $63,820 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,258 students · in-state tuition $35,980 · 70% graduate · median earnings $74,104 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayPublic Libraries in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Public Library
1425 Main Street, Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Public Library - Lasalle Branch
8728 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls
Cities Near Niagara Falls
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Niagara Falls?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Niagara Falls FAQ
Is Niagara Falls, New York affordable?⌄
Niagara Falls's median rent is $823/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,101/year. Median home value is $115,300.
Is Niagara Falls, New York safe?⌄
Niagara Falls's violent crime rate was 478 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2514 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Niagara Falls, New York?⌄
Niagara Falls has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Niagara Falls, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Niagara Falls is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $823/month and median household income is $49,101/year. The median home value is $115,300. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Niagara Falls, New York?⌄
The average commute in Niagara Falls is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from