Buffalo, NY Scores a 98 and Lists Under $250,000. Here Is the Data.

Most high-scoring real estate markets have one thing in common: they are expensive. Tight supply and strong demand tend to push prices up over time.

Buffalo, New York is the exception.

PropertyIQ scores Buffalo a 98 out of 100 as of February 28, 2026. That is an A+ grade, putting it among the top markets in the country. The median listing price is $249,900 as of February 2026 -- lower than most comparable markets scoring in this range.

Here is what the data shows.

Demand Is Outpacing Supply

Buffalo's pending-to-active ratio is 1.46 as of February 2026. For every active listing, 1.46 homes are already under contract. That is a market where buyers outnumber available properties.

Homes Are Selling Above Asking Price

The sale-to-list ratio in Buffalo is 103% as of November 2025. Sellers are receiving offers above their listed price.

Inventory Is Shrinking

There are 829 homes for sale in the Buffalo metro as of February 2026, down 7.4% year over year. As inventory tightens, competition increases.

Only 5.71% of listings have seen price cuts as of February 2026. Compare that to Houston at 18.4% or Austin at 20%.

Price Appreciation Is Forecast to Continue

Zillow projects Buffalo home values to grow 3.6% near-term as of December 2025.

What the Valuation Picture Looks Like

The market is modestly overvalued. Buffalo sits approximately 8.8% above fundamental value as of February 2026 -- elevated but not stretched. The median household income in Buffalo is $70,572 (2023 Census), and the income needed to buy at current prices is approximately $66,422, meaning the market is broadly accessible.

What the 98 Score Means

A score of 98 reflects strong demand signals, constrained supply, and reasonable valuation relative to fundamentals. Buffalo has been a consistent performer for several years without attracting the speculative attention that drove scores down in markets like Austin.

The combination of a high PropertyIQ Score and a sub-$250,000 median makes Buffalo an unusual data point: a top-tier market by score that remains accessible by price.

PropertyIQ score as of February 28, 2026. Listing and inventory data as of February 1, 2026. Forecast data as of December 2025. All data for informational purposes only.