There is more to Buffalo than chicken wings and Niagara Falls. The city has gone through a recent revitalization offering sophisticated, big-city entertainment and culture with a modest price tag for those looking to buy or rent. In 2014, mean house prices were about $106,000, with rents running about $700 per month. Located in western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie, Buffalo is best known for being the country's main access point to the famous beauty and power of Niagara Falls. With a population of about 260,000, Forbes rated Buffalo in 2010 as the 10th best place to raise a family and then rated it in 2014 as the country's most affordable city.
Buffalonians, as residents are called, are primarily young, single, educated, and upwardly-mobile career starters who bring vitality to the city's restaurants, music scene and nightlife. With so many career-minded professionals, the education level of Buffalo citizens is a little higher than the average U.S. city, with about 24 percent of adults having at least a bachelor's degree. Buffalo's largest economic sectors are financial services, technology, healthcare and education, and a typical family of four has an annual income of about $81,000. Buffalo fills a much-in-demand need for low-cost transportation and many people take the bus for their daily commute.
The thundering beauty of Niagara Falls is the unmistakable crown jewel of Buffalo. With four to six million cubic feet of water rushing over the edges every second of the day, Niagara Falls is a national wonder that attracts millions of visitors each year. However, a revitalized ($300 million invested) Canalside along the Erie Canal is fast becoming a major draw to the city, featuring more than 1,000 annual events, including concerts, outdoor yoga, skating, and even ice bicycling. Up-and-coming neighborhoods, such as Elmwood Village, are full of independently-owned open-air cafes, pubs, trendy shops, coffeehouses, farmers' markets and public art displays.
With a rich cultural mix of music, arts, and architecture, Buffalo has a wealth of performing arts centers, galleries, and seven Frank Lloyd Wright structures throughout the city. Its many large-city attractions are offered at a fraction of the price compared to other cities of its size. Enjoy the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra or catch a Broadway production at the Shea's Performing Arts Center. History buffs can visit Delaware Avenue's Ansley Wilcox House where, after the assassination of President William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office on September 14, 1901.