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Niagara Falls, NY

Census place 3651055 · pop 47,987

D−47/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in NY
📍 New York ranks #48 of 50 states →
🏆 Cost$115,300 · top 6%
🚽 Prop tax2.42% · bottom 4%
💡 Did you know?

Wedged against the world-famous waterfalls, it long marketed itself as the 'Honeymoon Capital of the World.'

Source ↗
Taxes
2.42% property · US 0.99%8.54% sales · US 7.00%up to 10.90% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

Google Maps ↗Zillow ↗Wikipedia ↗

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden2.42%4

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.42% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult obesity44.5%5

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

44.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poverty rate23.7%10

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

23.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$49,10111

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$49,101 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult smoking17.8%14

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

17.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Physical inactivity32.6%16

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

32.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Broadband access87.2%21

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

87.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Income inequality0.4726

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Population growth (5yr)-0.5%26

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-0.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.3%26

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health18.6%28

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Bachelor's degree or higher22.7%30

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

22.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Homeownership58.5%34

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

58.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults7.9%67

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

7.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Commute time19 min81

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$1,188/mo89

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,188/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Air quality (AQI)County-level34 AQI91

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

34 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level46/10091

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

46/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$115,30094

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$115,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Not measured for Niagara Falls: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Niagara Falls, NY a good place to live?
By the numbers, Niagara Falls scores 47/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is property-tax burden. New York overall ranks #48 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Niagara Falls, NY expensive to live in?
Niagara Falls has a median home value of $115,300 and typical rent around $1,188/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Niagara Falls, NY?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.42%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Niagara Falls, NY best at?
Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($115,300) — 94/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Wedged against the world-famous waterfalls, it long marketed itself as the 'Honeymoon Capital of the World.'

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.