Your Local Guide to the Best Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent in Buffalo
Buffalo has emerged as one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets for good reason. A beautiful city perfectly positioned by the beaches of Lake Erie, Buffalo has a relatively low cost of living that provides renters in the Upstate New York area with wide variety of options for finding a perfect new place in one of the many Cheap Buffalo apartments, homes, and townhomes.
Hi, I’m Patrick, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for the New York Area. We've got the inside scoop on some of the best places to move in Buffalo. Whether you’re looking for a 3 bedroom rental in a quiet neighborhood to raise your family or are a student looking for a hip studio right in the mix, we’ve got all the options you need to find the perfect match. Let me fill you in on everything you need to know about some of my favorite affordable neighborhoods to rent in the Buffalo area.
Also known as the Fruit Belt, Buffalo’s Medical Park neighborhood is located next to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. This East Side neighborhood has affordable single and two-story homes for rent along with traditional multifamily apartment complexes. The neighborhood’s extensive housing stock also features structures converted into chic loft apartments including some condos.
Take a stroll through High Street and Jefferson Avenue in the Medical Park neighborhood and you’ll find diverse singles and families enjoying urban life. The neighborhood extends to Michigan Ave to the west and the city’s famous Kensington Expressway to the east.
Located mere minutes from the Downtown action, the Fruit Belt is called home by singles, families and retirees alike. The neighborhood’s namesake ties back to the orchards and vegetable gardens that once lined what are now residential streets.
Venture to the west side of the Fruit Belt’s medical center and you’ll find Allen Street, a cultural hot spot rife with bars, restaurants, coffeehouses and other attractions. Local highlights include the Allen Street Poutine Company, Grindhaus Café and Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar.
Masten Park is one of the smaller residential neighborhoods in Buffalo with slightly more than 1,000 residents. Though many of the Masten Park residents are homeowners, there are also plenty of homes for rent in this Buffalo area. The neighborhood’s housing stock includes some vintage century-old homes conveniently located near main thoroughfares.
Masten Park is named in honor of its picturesque green space located along its southern point. Some of the Masten Park homes available for rent are approaching 175+ years in age.
Rent a house, townhome, room or apartment in Masten Park and you’ll enjoy easy access to the Buffalo Science Museum, a park, the Buffalo General Medical Center and primary thoroughfares. The neighborhood provides quick access to Route 33 that heads directly downtown.
Take a walk through the Masten Park neighborhood and you’ll be surrounded by massive stately homes including some historic Victorian and colonials. Both multi-family and single-family home are available for rent. Housing options include duplexes and single-detached homes along with larger apartment buildings. Most of the properties have expansive porches including balconies that make the neighborhood all the more cohesive.
If you don’t have a car, don’t fret as Masten Park bus lines provide easy access to the area’s top attractions.
Buffalo’s Johnson neighborhood is walkable, bikeable and also traversable by car and bus. Though Johnson only has around 900 residents, it is located in the artistic nucleus of Buffalo. Take a walk through this bustling neighborhood and you’ll find it is diverse, family-friendly and most importantly, fun. Featuring stores, restaurants and other niceties, the Johnson neighborhood makes living easy.
Johnson housing options range from single detached homes for rent to apartments in small apartment buildings and duplexes. Most of the neighborhood’s housing stock has two to three bedrooms.
Though few know it, the Johnson neighborhood was once a park. Today, the area is primarily residential though it is also the home of Hutch Tech High School. The area’s draws include the New Phoenix Theatre, Fosters Lounge, Broadway Market and the Sunnyside Store.
Kingsley has some of Buffalo’s most affordable housing options, most of which are three to four bedrooms. Studio apartments and two bedroom apartments are available for rent in traditional apartment complexes. Moreover, renters will also find some single-family homes for rent.
Stroll through the neighborhood and you’ll find properties dating back to the 1930s. However, the vast majority of Kingsley properties were built between 1940 and 1969.
The best part about renting in Kingsley is the considerable housing stock. At any given time, a quarter to a third of Kingsley housing is available for rent. The neighborhood’s homes are within walking distance to corner stores, some of which have apartments stationed above.
Kingsley also features former grand Victorian homes that have since been converted into living spaces available for rent. Duplexes and small apartment buildings with 4+ units are also available. Some such apartment buildings have two or three units available for rent.
Buffalo’s Kingsley neighborhood is culturally rich, featuring diverse residents including those of African and Haitian ancestry. Walk the streets and you’ll hear English, Spanish and even some Urdu, thanks to its Pakistani immigrants.
Walk, bike or drive through Kingsley and you’ll find several Tim Hortons, the Twin City market and the popular Marin Luther King Park within easy access.
Cold Springs is a small neighborhood on the east side of the city. Perfectly situated between Jefferson Ave, East Delavan Ave and Main Street, Cold Springs is a cultural hotbed. Here, you will find the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, the Cold Spring Tavern and plenty more.
Located between Delaware Park and the city’s medical corridor, Cold Springs has affordable rentals. Choose between single and two story homes for rent along with multi-unit apartment buildings and you’ll live in comfort without spending through the nose for a living space.
Emslie is an idyllic, peaceful and charming residential space renters are proud to call home. This is a family-friendly area safe for couples, singles and retirees. The majority of Emslie’s houses and apartments for rent are a variety including two and three bedroom units.
The neighborhood is walkable yet most of its renters and homeowners travel by car. Emslie also provides quick and easy access to the I-90 that takes you downtown, to Rochester, the Finger Lakes and beyond. However, if you don’t own a car, you can walk or cycle to bodegas, coffeehouses and restaurants throughout Emslie. This small Buffalo neighborhood also has convenient bus lines to boot.
Located on the east side of the city, the Emslie neighborhood’s most noteworthy street is called Bristol. Bristol is divided into two parts, each of which spans two blocks with one stretching from Smith Street to Clare Street.
The MLK Park neighborhood of Buffalo has affordable housing in a historic urban setting. Named after its city park, this residential section of the city is positioned on the south side of the city. MLK Park is conveniently located by the Buffalo Museum of Science, several houses of worship and popular halal markets.
Rent an apartment or a rental home in MLK Park and you’ll have easy access to the Kensington Expressway that takes you downtown in mere minutes. The area’s primary draw is its spacious 56-acre park that has served as a local landmark dating back more than two centuries. It is in MLK Park where renters and homeowners enjoy picnics, open air jazz concerts and sports. The park even includes fountains with splash pads available during the humid summers.
MLK Park renters can easily walk to the John E. Brent Garden that locals refer to as the area’s secret garden. This idyllic space has a stunning walking trail, cypress trees, cherry blossom trees and lovely perennial flowers. Continue walking, biking or driving through the area and you’ll find attractions ranging from Shy’s Subs to Tuscan Pizza Crust, Spot Coffee and more.
In terms of housing options available for rent, the MLK Park neighborhood has small apartment buildings with two bedroom and studio apartments, single-family homes and medium sized homes with 3-4 bedrooms. The area also has duplexes and even some old Victorian homes divided into apartments available for rent.
Perry, revered as one of Buffalo’s most accessible residential spaces, provides ideal living for those in search of peace and quiet. Perry’s rental options include spaces in both small and large apartment buildings as well as plenty of inventory of homes available for rent in the area too.
Rent in Perry and you’ll be within minutes of the I-190 highway that connects to the 90 for easy access to downtown Buffalo, neighboring suburbs and the rest of the state. Perry transportation is also facilitated with bus lines spanning the entirety of the neighborhood.
Take a walk or drive through Perry and you’ll find green spaces including Conway Park. The best part about living in Perry is its previous blight is being demolished in favor of exciting new housing and commercial construction projects. This is an up-and-coming section of Buffalo with a bright future for both renters and homeowners.
The Perry neighborhood is conveniently located by the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino and the city’s famous Cobblestone district. Here, you will find restaurants, bars, slot machines and a litany of other entertainment options.
This popular Buffalo neighborhood is rife with character, spirit and friendly residents. The South Ellicott part of town has the perfect location by all of downtown Buffalo’s top draws. The neighborhood also provides easy access to parks, each of which are dog-friendly.
Highlighted by a charming aesthetic and welcoming atmosphere, this community-oriented part of Buffalo is perfect for singles, families and pet owners. In total, the neighborhood has slightly more than 4,200 residents. This walkable neighborhood provides access to Kaisertown and the popular Broadway Filmore section.
South Ellicott housing ranges from small apartment buildings to larger complexes, duplexes and single detached homes. Each of the available units is conveniently located to the I-190 highway. The neighborhood is also conveniently linked by bus lines.
Broadway Fillmore is an urban living space complete with commercial zoning including the famous Broadway Market. It is here where you will find Buffalo’s best pierogis and other signature foods.
Located on the city’s lower east side, the Broadway Fillmore district began as a hotbed for Polish and Eastern European immigrants. Aside from the Broadway Market, the neighborhood also features the Buffalo Central Train Terminal, a sizeable Art Deco style building that now serves as a museum.
The area is also home to several churches including Saint Stanislaus Church, Corpus Christi Church and Saint John Kanty Church. Additional neighborhood highlights include the visually striking Polish Union Hall, the Adam Mickiewicz Library and the Dom Polski Building.
Broadway Fillmore housing primarily consists of one and two-story houses sometimes described as workers’ cottages. You’ll also find two-story doubles featuring living flats on individual levels.
The Central residential neighborhood, often referred to as Central Park, is active, vibrant and fun. Positioned between Amherst Street to the south, Woodbridge Avenue to the north, Parkside Avenue to the west and Main Street to its east, Central is the place to be.
This unique neighborhood was brainstormed by Lewis Jackson Bennett, a cement specialist. Bennet’s famous Central Buffalo house was designed by none other than Milton Earl Beebe, one of Buffalo’s most famous architects. Today, the neighborhood is home to more than a thousand people.
The Central Buffalo neighborhood has a mixture of urban and suburban elements, providing quick access to parks, bars and more. This centrally located residential area is attractuve to both young professionals and families. All demographics are drawn to the neighborhood Lexington Co-op grocery store.
Take a walk through the neighborhood and you’ll find you aren’t far from the mainstays of Buffalo’s popular Hertel Avenue and Main Street. An added bonus is the proximity to the Niagara River that is a mere 15 minutes away. The neighborhood is also closely located to the Canadian border and Buffalo’s popular Delaware Park.
Rental options include houses and apartment buildings, Victorian style houses, Colonials, brick homes, Cape Cods, Tudors and American Foursquare. Most of the available homes were constructed prior to 1950. The majority of these homes for rent are positioned far away from the street, meaning there is yard space for pets and kids to play.
Buffalo’s First Ward is home to nearly 4,000 people, many of whom rent. Choose the First Ward as your home and you’ll enjoy an urban living environment with suburban elements. The First Ward is home to coffee shops, bars, restaurants and even some green spaces.
As one of the city’s oldest residential spaces, the First Ward is hip, fun and conveniently located near the Buffalo River. Here, you will find kayak launch sites, pop-up restaurants, breweries, cycling paths and more. The First Ward’s highlights include Gene McCarthy’s, Elevator Alley Kayak, Lakeward Spirits, Harman’s Distilling and Adolf’s First Ward tavern.
Also referred to as the Irish First Ward thanks to its sizeable Irish immigrant population, this part of Buffalo is full of spirit and spunk. Walk the streets and you’ll find Irish-American businesses, breweries and factories.
Continue exploring the First Ward and you’ll stumble upon green spaces including the Buffalo River Fest Park, Father Conway Park and Mutual Riverfront Park. In terms of housing, the neighborhood has apartment units for rent in complexes along with one and two-story homes.
The riverside neighborhood of Buffalo River is in the northwestern section of the city by the Niagara River. This residential neighborhood is adjacent to the Black Rock district. Undeveloped until the latter half of the 19th century, Riverside was previously used for farming.
Today, the Buffalo River neighborhood is popular amongst renters for it location by the water, affordable housing and relatively young population. The Buffalo River neighborhood has plenty of two-story homes, duplexes and individual apartment units for rent.
This residential hotspot is located near the commercialized Ontario and Tonawanda streets. Buffalo River is also located by Riverside Park designed by none other than Frederick Law Olmstead.
If you want to be in the center of the action, Downtown Buffalo is where it’s at. Though the rent is a bit higher downtown than other parts of city, the location is worth it. Downtown Buffalo has apartment complexes, single family homes and duplexes for rent.
Choose downtown as your new home and you’ll enjoy quick and easy access to Niagara Square and Lafayette Square where locals party up like there’s no tomorrow. Downtown Buffalo also provides convenient access to the Theatre Historic District, the Joseph Ellicott Historic District, the Cobblestone District, Shea’s Performing Arts Center and the Buffalo Sabres hockey arena.
This Buffalo neighborhood is small yet chock-full of character. If you are looking for an intimate living space with an urban feel, Willert Park is the perfect place to call home.
Located on the east side of downtown, Willert Park is within a mile’s walk of the city’s top attractions. You can also take the #4 bus on Broadway to go downtown. Featuring quaint brick warehouses since converted into apartments, some of which are a century old, Willert Park is a blast from the past with modern amenities. Additional renting options include one and two-story homes.
Rent in Willert Park and you’ll find the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center is easily accessible. It is here that you will enjoy symposiums, exhibits, car shows, conventions and more. The Canalside skating rink and Buffalo River are closely located south of the neighborhood.
The South Abbott neighborhood features some of Buffalo’s most stunning architecture. This residential area also provides easy access to hopping night life attractions. The vibrant nightlife opportunities are balanced with a respectable school system, public parks and family-friendly attractions.
South Abbott’s claim to fame is its strong Irish culture. Though the area is primarily residential, there are some retail and commercial zones, most of which are on Abbott Road. Featuring a plethora of Irish pubs, this Buffalo gem is walkable, fun and perfect for those who enjoy a good time.
Search the South Abbott rentals and you’ll find most are moderately sized homes. South Abbott primarily consists of 20th Century Craftsman and Colonial style housing on tree-lined streets. Local highlights include Imperial Pizza, Ko-ed Candies and the Erie County Botanical Gardens.
