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Buffalo's neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You've got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there's a neighborhood for everyone in Buffalo.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it's not all rainbows and sunshine in Buffalo. Some neighborhoods aren't as great as others.
So the question arises, which Buffalo neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?
Today, we'll use science and data to determine which Buffalo hoods need a little tender loving care - the sore thumbs of the Buffalo area if you will. Realistically, you can't expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although South Abbott ranks way above the rest.
We examined 50 of Buffalo's neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don't quite measure up to Buffalo's reputation.
The Worst Neighborhoods In Buffalo For 2021
So what's the worst neighborhood to live in Buffalo for 2021? According to the most recent census data, Emerson looks to be the worst neighborhood in Buffalo.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Buffalo that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don't blame the messenger.
Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best. Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Buffalo.
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New York
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The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Buffalo For 2021
/10
Population: 1,980
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $22,540 (4th worst)
Median Income: $17,900 (worst)
More on Emerson: Data
/10
Population: 7,184
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $21,479 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $19,697 (2nd worst)
More on Broadway-Fillmore: Data
/10
Population: 3,160
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $23,860 (5th worst)
Median Income: $26,499 (15th worst)
More on Babcock: Data
/10
Population: 2,485
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $37,900 (11th worst)
Median Income: $26,230 (14th worst)
More on South Ellicott: Data
/10
Population: 3,027
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $29,600 (7th worst)
Median Income: $22,626 (5th worst)
More on Mlk Park: Data
/10
Population: 1,426
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $33,867 (9th worst)
Median Income: $24,727 (10th worst)
More on Emslie: Data
/10
Population: 683
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $21,800 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $21,396 (3rd worst)
More on Squaw Island: Data
/10
Population: 1,641
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $24,533 (6th worst)
Median Income: $22,075 (4th worst)
More on First Ward: Data
/10
Population: 4,197
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $34,230 (10th worst)
Median Income: $25,572 (12th worst)
More on Genesee Moselle: Data
/10
Population: 5,425
Rank Last Year: 12 (Up 2)
Median Home Value: $18,575 (worst)
Median Income: $28,327 (19th worst)
More on Grider: Data
How we determined the worst Buffalo hoods in 2021
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Buffalo:
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one's willing to pay to live here)
- High crime (Estimated)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Buffalo, New York for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criteria into a "Worst Score".
The neighborhood with the lowest "Worst Score" ranks as the worst neighborhood of Buffalo.
Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Buffalo to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 50 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.
The 'hoods around Buffalo that are really hoods
Well there you have it -- the worst of the neighborhoods in Buffalo with Emerson landing at the bottom of the pack.
As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Buffalo aren't all bad. South Abbott takes the cake as the best place to live in Buffalo.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more New York reading, check out:
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Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Buffalo For 2021?
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emerson | 1,980 |
| 2 | Broadway-Fillmore | 7,184 |
| 3 | Babcock | 3,160 |
| 4 | South Ellicott | 2,485 |
| 5 | Mlk Park | 3,027 |
| 6 | Emslie | 1,426 |
| 7 | Squaw Island | 683 |
| 8 | First Ward | 1,641 |
| 9 | Genesee Moselle | 4,197 |
| 10 | Grider | 5,425 |
| 11 | Schiller Park | 10,387 |
| 12 | Masten Park | 2,526 |
| 13 | Kingsley | 3,056 |
| 14 | Lovejoy | 7,787 |
| 15 | Valley | 835 |
| 16 | Black Rock | 6,015 |
| 17 | Leroy | 5,379 |
| 18 | Medical Park | 2,039 |
| 19 | Tifft | 1,327 |
| 20 | Military | 4,259 |
| 21 | Lasalle | 8,445 |
| 22 | Kenfield | 7,067 |
| 23 | Riverside Park | 11,574 |
| 24 | Columbus | 2,597 |
| 25 | Willert Park | 4,679 |
| 26 | North Delaware | 2,300 |
| 27 | Triangle | 3,876 |
| 28 | Delaware Park | 1,815 |
| 29 | Seneca | 2,834 |
| 30 | Waterfront | 959 |
| 31 | Cazenovia Park | 5,471 |
| 32 | Kaisertown | 5,166 |
| 33 | Bryant | 5,717 |
| 34 | Kensington | 10,344 |
| 35 | Grant Ferry | 7,182 |
| 36 | South Park | 6,430 |
| 37 | University | 5,400 |
| 38 | Front Park | 11,957 |
| 39 | Hamlin Park | 7,022 |
| 40 | Allen | 3,189 |
| 41 | Lakeview | 3,509 |
| 42 | Forest | 10,837 |
| 43 | Park Meadow | 3,327 |
| 44 | Abbott Mckinley | 7,089 |
| 45 | Parkside | 2,507 |
| 46 | Delaware-West Ferry | 5,803 |
| 47 | Albright | 2,910 |
| 48 | North Park | 14,742 |
| 49 | Starin Central | 5,695 |
| 50 | South Abbott | 3,622 |
This is a ridiculous article and very biased. Not sure what you hoped to accomplish with it.
I wouldn’t think much of this list. It lacks the real issues like violent crime. It also says 600 people live on Squaw Island.
#9 is krettner street not emslie
You’re “Detailed List” is lacking alot of details.
NO details…although I’ll go along w some of these rankings.
I grew up in babcock and I can tell you it isn’t glamorous but it certainly isn’t worse than the East side or west side! No one could pay me or all my bills and rent for me to live in ether of those areas! You hear about shootings all the time in those areas! The person who wrote this is shot!
i find this a bit off because I reside in the valley have my entire life and with all that’s happening at Larkin, canalside, riverworks, riverfest, and new businesses along seneca street, plus lofts being built, new dinners, ppl improving their houses how do you rate this. Anywho ty cause my taxes will stay low as my neighborhood thrives. Dam stereotypes with your own personal opinion
Agree !!!
This is so wrong!!
I have lived in Seneca-Babcock my entire life-56 1/2 years, and will tell you, it’s one of the closest-knitted nieghborhoods in the city of Buffalo. It’s true that we lack alot, that most nieghborhoods have, but we are on a rebound. The people are the best.
This article is very concerning for many reasons, but the poor language choices and lack of understanding of Buffalo’s clearly shown historical redlining of the city are the biggest offenders.
I’m sorry but, some of the comments are comments are true sad to say but, very much the truth indeed.
Babcock has it’s problem tell me one that doesn’t. I have a lot of great memories from the many years I spent there. And I have lived all over the world
Try living there before you talk
I’m curious as to how Squaw/unity Island managed to make this list considering that theres not one house in the entire island. How exactly did all your “science” manage to not tell you the island is a park?
The Lower West Side wasn’t even mentioned in this article and that’s where MOST of the Heroin is ! Philadelphia St. , 14th St., 15th St., Normal Ave. ( Irony ! ) it’s all hell.
AND the “Fruit Belt” / Lower Main St. wasn’t even mentioned either. Good God. Talk about derelicts. The East Side ( Fillmore / Bailey ) is only worse.