Below Average CostNear National AverageNIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Niagara Falls 001 · Nandaro / CC BY-SA 3.0Niagara Falls, mill district on American shore, ca. 1900 · Detroit Publishing Co. / Public domainCataract Commons, Niagara Falls, New York · Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 4.0View of American Falls and Niagara Falls, United States, at dusk, from Skylon Tower, 2007 · DimiTalen / CC0
Niagara Falls is a small city of 48,502 in New York, with a median household income of $45,932
and a 9.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Niagara Falls stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Niagara Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Niagara Falls city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.4
Niagara Falls's overall cost of living index is 94.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Niagara Falls costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Niagara Falls, NY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$94,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$763
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,932
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Niagara Falls's violent crime rate is 501.1 per 100,000 residents
— 32% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
501.1 /100k
Property Crime
2807.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Niagara Falls is served primarily by NIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1
.
Metric
Niagara Falls, NY
National Avg
School District
NIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Niagara Falls sees average highs of 33.4°F in January
and 82.2°F in July,
with 34.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 72.4 inches of snow per year.
Niagara Falls's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Niagara Falls roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $94,900 and median rent is $763/month.
Niagara Falls's violent crime rate is 501.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2807.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Niagara Falls are operated by NIAGARA FALLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 22.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Niagara Falls, NY has a population of 48,502, a median household income of $45,932, and an unemployment rate of 9.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Niagara Falls averages 33.4°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.7 inches
with about 72.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Niagara Falls, NY is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 14304, 14305, 14303, 14301, 14302.
The population of Niagara Falls, New York is 48,502 with a median age of 40.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Niagara Falls: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $94,900, median household income $45,932, crime index 133 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Niagara Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
