Living in Buffalo Niagara

Beautiful, diverse neighborhoods

  • Our neighborhoods reflect an eclectic range of architecture, from Victorian cottages to turn-of-the-century mansions and stylish contemporary homes. Real estate prices in Buffalo Niagara are among the most affordable in the nation. You’ll be astounded to learn what types of homes you can afford.
  • A federal study of 50 U.S. regions revealed that people who work in the Buffalo Niagara metro area have the shortest commute time — an average of just 19 minutes.

More house for your buck

No matter what your lifestyle, our region has the right home:

  • Condos on the city’s waterfront or SoHo-style lofts
  • Historic homes with such elegant details as stained-glass windows and rich wainscoting
  • Large new luxury homes in suburban communities

Fun outdoors, all year round

We enjoy more summer sun than Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, or Washington, DC, but breezes off the lake keep things comfortable. We rarely have a day over 90 degrees. When winter comes—let it snow! Streets are cleared quickly, traffic flows smoothly, and we’re out enjoying the winter sports.

  • In spring, Delaware Park attracts walkers, runners, bicyclists, golfers, tennis and soccer players from the entire region.
  • Summers are warm and pleasant, inviting boaters to the sparkling waters of Lake Erie and swimmers to beachfront communities across the border in Canada.
  • In autumn, fall colors draw hikers to the gorges, trails, and waterfalls and families to the country for pumpkins and cider.
  • We revel in winter! Skiers and snowboarders head for the slopes. It’s a short drive to the region’s eight ski areas, including Holiday Valley, rated among the top 15 ski resorts by Ski magazine. Ice skaters take a twirl on the open-air rink in downtown Buffalo or play hockey on an indoor rink.

Summer open-air events

  • The beautiful rose garden in Delaware Park provides the backdrop for the free Shakespeare in the Park series.
  • Summer’s the time for Thursday in the Square, a series of free, weekly concerts in downtown Buffalo’s Lafayette Square.
  • The summer is filled with festivals, such as: the Allentown Art Festival, Taste of Buffalo, Irish Music Festival, Elmwood Village Arts Festival, Toy Fest, and The Buffalo News Sunday jazz events.
  • Artpark, an open-air center for the visual and performing arts, features an amphitheater overlooking the Niagara River Gorge.

Major league sports for major league fans

  • This region hosts National Football League (NFL) football with the Buffalo Bills and National Hockey League (NHL) hockey with the Buffalo Sabres.
  • The crack of the bat heralds spring at Coca-Cola Field, home of the Buffalo Bisons, the New York Mets affiliate and one of the country’s most successful Triple-A baseball teams.
  • Experience the excitement of NCAA Division I basketball at several local colleges and universities. You can even participate in March Madness—Buffalo is frequently a host city.
  • Buffalo is a sports town. Teams and leagues exist for everyone, young or old, in every sport.

Food from across the globe

Our diverse ethnic and cultural populations have made their mark on the regional cuisine. Buffalo Niagara’s restaurants and cultural festivals serve up superb international fare, including Thai, Indian, Cajun, and Caribbean specialties. Catering to the sophisticated tastes of the region, specialty markets abound, many combining a country-market ambience with an abundance of international foods.

All the world is a stage

You’ll be surprised by the range of entertainment in the region, including 18 Professional Theaters such as:

  • Shea’s Performing Arts Center, in the thriving downtown Theater District, brings Broadway hits to Buffalo.
  • The Irish Classical Theatre presents great works of dramatic literature in an intimate setting.
  • Studio Arena Theatre combines the best of both classic and contemporary theater.
  • Children find a warm introduction to the theater through the child-focused Theatre of Youth, presenting shows ranging from The Miracle Worker to Hardy Boys favorites.
  • The annual Shaw Festival in nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, raises the curtain in three different theaters.
  • The Paul Robeson and Ujima Theaters present original works reflecting the African-American experience.
  • The University at Buffalo’s Center for the Performing Arts features performances ranging from classical ballet and Irish dance to the North American Rock Guitar Competition.

21 museums, large and small, including:

  • The nationally renowned Albright-Knox Art Gallery, presenting an impressive collection of contemporary art and major exhibitions throughout the year
  • The Burchfield-Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College
  • The Buffalo Museum of Science, featuring activities for kids
  • The internationally renowned Strong Museum in Rochester, New York, home to the National Toy Hall of Fame and the National Museum of Play
  • The Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum
  • The Karpeles Museum of historic manuscripts

More family fun

  • Centrally located in Delaware Park, the Buffalo Zoo is the perfect size for young children. Want more of an adventure? The Toronto Zoo is one of the largest in the world.
  • Shoot down the Niagara River on a jet boat or take a leisurely cruise on the Miss Buffalo.
  • Visit Six Flags Darien Lake, the region’s largest amusement park.
  • Military history comes to life at Fort Erie and Fort George in Ontario and at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York.

Music for any taste

  • The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra shines at Kleinhans Music Hall, with a concert series for every musical taste and a showcase of internationally acclaimed artists.
  • The Tralf is Buffalo’s hot spot for jazz, folk and rock.
  • Drop in for the open jam on Sunday night at the historic Colored Musicians Club.
  • Dozens of clubs send out the beat in the Chippewa District with live music of every genre.

Our architectural legacy

In Buffalo Niagara, you’ll discover some of the finest examples of American architecture.

  • In 1896, the Ellicott Square Building in downtown Buffalo, with its lovely interior courtyard, was the largest office building in the world.
  • Frank Lloyd Wright designed five homes in the region, notably the Darwin D. Martin House, now undergoing a $23 million restoration.

Our parks

Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of Central Park in New York City, created the City of Buffalo’s beautiful system of six parks and parkways. The largest is Delaware Park, set in the heart of the historic Parkside neighborhood in Buffalo.

Historic sites

Once a thriving port on the Erie Canal, Buffalo is rich in history. Museums and historic sites introduce visitors to our heritage.

  • The Theodore Roosevelt National Inaugural Site is where Roosevelt took the oath of office in 1901 after President William McKinley’s assassination.
  • The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society occupies a building constructed as part of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition.

A world-class education

  • Primary/secondary – Our students perform higher than the state and national averages on the ACT and SAT tests. Here you’ll find 400 public and private elementary and high schools, including public “magnet schools” with special concentrations in the arts and sciences, performing arts, or technical training.
  • Higher education – Buffalo Niagara has nearly 30 institutions of higher learning, including the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Canisius College, Niagara University, and Buffalo State College.
  • Special programs
    • Children in grades 7-12 may enroll in the Gifted Math Program at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo.
    • Roswell Park’s Research Participation Program in Science for Young Scholars, the longest continuously running program of its kind in the nation, introduces aspiring scientists in high school and college to an intensive research experience.
    • Roswell Park and the Buffalo Board of Education created the Science Research Program for City Honors High School, rated the best high school in Western New York by Business First.

Great destinations are just a short drive away

  • Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake
  • One of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, Niagara Falls is right in our own backyard. Maid of the Mist boats take visitors close to the brink of the Horseshoe Falls. Enjoy the Butterfly Conservatory and the new Niagara Falls Aviary along the Niagara Falls Parkway.
  • Other popular attractions in the region include the Seneca Niagara Casino and the charming town of Stratford, Ontario, home of the Stratford Festival, featuring productions from Shakespeare and Molière, to 20th century masters such as Beckett, O’Neil and Williams.
  • Southern Ontario lures golfers to the beautiful Legends on the Niagara, a championship golf course.
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario is home to a charming shopping district, bed-and-breakfast inns, and the Shaw Festival.

Two world-class cities at our doorstep

  • Toronto – Two hours from Buffalo, Toronto is truly a cosmopolitan city. Visitors from all over the world enjoy the international flavor of its food, fashion, and entertainment. Fabulous restaurants, live theater that rivals New York City, the vibrant Lake Ontario waterfront, and wonderful museums, including every kid’s favorite, the hands-on Ontario Science Centre, are just some of the attractions.
  • New York City – The Big Apple is just an hour away—and affordable for spur-of-the-moment trips, thanks to affordable flights out of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

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