A+
67%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
97%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
62%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleBuffalo/100k peopleMinnesota/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime125n/a (estimate)7562,2472,324
Murder0n/a0.03.26.3
Rape0n/a0.040.740.0
Robbery0n/a0.057.066.1
Assault2n/a12.1179.7268.2
Violent crime2n/a (estimate)12281370
Burglary12n/a72.6214.2269.8
Theft99n/a598.91,464.81,401.9
Vehicle theft12n/a72.6287.9282.7
Property crime123n/a (estimate)7441,9671,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Buffalo, MN

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Buffalo is 67.5% lower than the national average. Specifically, there were 2 violent crimes reported in Buffalo, equivalent to 12 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average by 96.7%. Additionally, Buffalo recorded 123 property crimes, amounting to 744 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average by 61.9%.

With a crime rate of 756, significantly below the national average of 2324, Buffalo stands out as one of the safest places to reside in the United States. This distinction is primarily attributed to the calculation of total crimes, which encompasses both violent and property crimes per 100,000 residents.

Buffalo distinguishes itself with one of the lowest violent crime rates in the U.S., reporting a mere 12 violent crimes per 100,000 people. This achievement firmly establishes Buffalo among the safest cities in the nation, rendering it an alluring choice for those seeking a new place to call home.

In a remarkable testament to the city's commitment to safety, Buffalo reported a murder rate of 0. This could indicate that it is a very safe place to live, but also serves as an inspiration to other urban areas striving for safer communities. Examining the full crime report will provide a complete overview of all crimes - violent and property.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Buffalo?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Buffalo residents. Out of the respondents (7 in total), 43% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Buffalo were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 57% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Buffalo a Safe Place to Live?

Before you decide to relocate, it’s always good to ask yourself “Is Buffalo a safe place to live?” Although the answer might not be that simple, as some areas are safer than others, getting a good feel for the overall rate of crime can definitely be helpful. Overall, the Buffalo crime rate is 67% lower than the national average. If we break that down daily, that translates into 0.34 crimes per day - 0.01 violent crimes and 0.34 property crimes.

Has Crime in Buffalo Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows us to analyze short-term trends in crime activity. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, we can identify patterns and shifts in Buffalo crime rates. This information can be invaluable for residents looking to make informed decisions on where to live. When comparing the most recent year to the previous year, total crime in Buffalo has decreased by 8.8% year over year. Violent crime has decreased by 66.7% and property crime has decreased by 6.1%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Buffalo

High population density areas are often large urban centers with diverse economic opportunities. These areas can exacerbate income inequality, with pockets of poverty existing alongside affluence. Areas with economic disparities may experience higher property crimes and, in some cases, violent crimes. On the other hand, areas with low population density tend to see lower Buffalo crime rates. The population density in Buffalo is 2114.9 people per square mile, while the national average is 90.6 people per square mile.

In Buffalo, the cost of living is 4.2% higher than the national average. A high cost of living can induce economic stress for locals, especially those with limited financial resources. When people grapple with soaring housing expenses, utility bills, healthcare costs, and other essential necessities, they may be driven towards criminal activities, including theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. Conversely, cities boasting a lower cost of living may mitigate economic pressures and potentially result in reduced crime rates.

In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Buffalo has a median home price of $206,800, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

Buffalo crime map



The Buffalo crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Buffalo as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Buffalo crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Buffalo crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Buffalo, MN Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Buffalo crime rates are 67% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Buffalo are 97% lower than the national average
      • In Buffalo you have a 1 in 133 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Buffalo is safer than 89% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Buffalo has decreased by 6%

      Buffalo, MN Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Buffalo

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        Daily Crime In Buffalo (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above illustrates the number of daily crimes in Buffalo, MN per 100,000 people. In Buffalo, the total number of daily crimes is 2.97 times less than the Minnesota average and 3.07 times less than the national average. The number of daily violent crimes in Buffalo is 23.19 times less than the Minnesota average and 30.57 times less than the national average. With regards to property crimes, Buffalo has a daily crime rate that is 2.64 times less than the Minnesota average and 2.63 times less than the national average.

        How Safe is Buffalo (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in Minnesota and all other cities across the US, is Buffalo safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Buffalo is safer than 77% of other cities in the state of Minnesota. In addition, Buffalo is safer than 89% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all Minnesota and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Buffalo. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Buffalo is above average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Buffalo

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Buffalo is 1 in 8266
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Buffalo is 1 in 135
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Buffalo is 1 in 133
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Buffalo, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 8266. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 135 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Buffalo is 1 in 133.

        Year Over Year Crime In Buffalo (per 100,000 people)

        An ideal indicator of whether Buffalo is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Buffalo has decreased by 66% and the rate of property crime in Buffalo has decreased by 4%. The total crime rate in Buffalo has decreased by 6% year to year.

        Buffalo police department

        Item Buffalo Minnesota National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)207,759558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.31.83.3
        There are a total of 20 Buffalo police officers. This results in 1.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 29.6% less than the Minnesota average and 61% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Minnesota

        State Total offenders Minnesota /100K National /100K
        Minnesota1,28326266
        There are a total of 1,283 sex offenders in Minnesota. This yields a total of 26 sex offenders in Minnesota per 100,000 residents which is 90% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Big Lake, MN11,08555253309
        Howard Lake, MN1,89792230323
        Greenfield, MN3,01344309353
        Corcoran, MN6,11327343370
        Independence, MN3,77854375428
        Long Lake, MN1,77962435497
        Medina, MN6,54944503548
        Buffalo, MN16,41312744756

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Palmetto Estates, FL16,4193071,8552,162
        Vincent, CA16,4056142,8763,490
        Ammon, ID16,4032198401,059
        East Riverdale, MD16,3955502,2612,812
        Troutdale, OR16,4333643,1213,484
        Buffalo, MN16,41312744756
        Source: The Buffalo, MN crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.