Advantages

Welcome to Buffalo Niagara

Get to Know Western New York

With fantastic opportunities for work and play – without high costs and hassles – Buffalo Niagara is your place for a great life.

In Buffalo Niagara, abundant green spaces are surrounded by sparkling waters, including two Great Lakes – Erie and Ontario – and the Niagara River, and one of the world’s most popular natural wonders, Niagara Falls. To the east and south are rolling farms, great ski areas, countless inland lakes and rivers, miles of hiking and biking trails, many New York State parks and forests, and much more to enjoy.

Are You Right For Buffalo?

Buffalo & Niagara Falls

Business and Entertainment Hubs

Buffalo and its sister city, Niagara Falls, are undergoing phenomenal transformations spurred by billions in public and private investment. Redevelopment and new construction abound, and businesses from restaurants to galleries to technology centers are opening at the fastest pace in more than 50 years.

And while the positive energy is tangible, the ability to enjoy living and working here remains eminently accessible: Buffalo Niagara still has one of the lowest costs of living and easiest commutes of any similarly sized metropolitan areas in the United States

The 8 County Region

Buffalo Niagara is a unique, historic and dynamic Region

The Buffalo Niagara region is comprised of eight counties that form the western-most end of New York State. The region is strategically located within 500 miles/800 km of 40 percent of the U.S. population. Its international border makes it a bi-national gateway for commerce, facilitating $83 billion in annual trade between Canada and the United States.

Western New York is a region deeply rooted in history, yet moving boldly toward a dynamic future. Explore the eight unique counties below.

Sources: US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada (population), US Department of Transportation (trade and freight data)

Allegany

Allegany County

Allegany County, with its hilly terrain and abundant farmland boasts venues for cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain-biking and golfing. Many freshwater lakes, rivers and streams meander here, making it a haven for boating and fishing. It is home to Alfred University, Alfred State College, and Houghton College, providing exciting cultural venues and educational opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages and interests.

Sources: US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada (population), US Department of Transportation (trade and freight data)

Labor Market County Stats

Cattaraugus

Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus County is the heart of Western New York’s ski country, and you’ll find year-round fun with golf and skiing at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, dubbed “the Aspen of the East.” Nearby HoliMont is the largest private ski area in the country, with over 50 miles of trails. In addition, Allegany State Park’s 65,000 acres of forests, streams, and trails make it one of the largest in the New York State Park System. You’ll also find St. Bonaventure University in nearby Olean.

Labor Market County Stats

Chautauqua

Chautauqua County

The world-renowned Chautauqua Institution—a recreation, education, arts, and religious campus on Lake Chautauqua established in 1874—hosts more than 2,000 events each summer. Residents and visitors also enjoy Peek’N’Peak Ski and Golf Resort and myriad campgrounds, cottages, and cabins. Chautauqua has two colleges in the state university system, Fredonia and Jamestown Community College. In addition, historic Lily Dale, tucked in the woods along Upper Cassadaga Lake, is home to the country’s largest spiritualist community, attracting thousands of believers and skeptics alike each summer and making for a lively—and maybe even enlightening—visit!

Labor Market County Stats

Erie

Erie County

Erie County—home to the City of Buffalo, the second-largest city in New York State—is the most populous county in the Buffalo Niagara region, with nearly 1 million people living here. It’s also home to countless museums, galleries, restaurants, shops, and more. All of Buffalo’s professional sports teams (major league and minor) play here, as well as several college teams. More than a dozen colleges and universities are located here.

Labor Market County Stats

Industry Specializations: Health Care and Social Assistance • Retail Trade • Manufacturing • Accommodation & Food Service • Administrative and Waste Services • Finance and Insurance • Professional and Technical Services
Major Employers: Kaleida Health, Catholic Health System, M&T Bank, Tops Markets, Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, Wegmans Food Markets, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Moog Inc., HSBC Bank USA NA, and People Inc.

Genesee

Genesee County

The county’s largest city, Batavia, is undergoing significant revitalization. Genesee County is also home to Genesee Community College, supporting lifelong learning. People here are centrally located between Buffalo Niagara and Rochester, making it a popular home for those whose work includes travel throughout western and central New York State and Pennsylvania. The area’s natural beauty is preserved through agriculture, with many thriving family-owned farms and farm cooperatives.

Labor Market County Stats

Niagara

Niagara County

Niagara County is home to Niagara Falls, the Niagara County Wine Trail (with a burgeoning viticulture/ viniculture industry), thriving agriculture, Old Fort Niagara, the Daredevil Museum, and more. Niagara University and Niagara County Community College are here, too. It’s also home to one of the longest- running hydroelectric power plants in the country.

Labor Market County Stats

Industry Specializations: Utilities • Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting • Retail Trade • Construction • Health Care and Social Assistance
Major Employers: Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, GM Components Holdings, Fashion Outlets of Niagara, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Saint-Gobain Corp., Niagara University, Mt. Saint Mary’s Hospital, and Modern Corp.

Orleans

Orleans County

Orleans County is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Boating, fishing, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and so much more await in this lovely area, which offers abundant waterways with Lake Ontario, Oak Orchard Marina, and the Erie Canal. An abundance of natural freshwater resources also makes it a popular spot for agriculture, and much of the county is dotted with corn, apple, berry and other produce farms.

Like Genesee County, Orleans County is a popular place for people whose work or family life is split between Buffalo Niagara and Rochester. In addition, life is great in Orleans County’s towns including Albion (the county seat), Holley, and Medina—famous for Medina sandstone, a reddish-brown stone shipped via the Erie Canal to locations around the world. The steps of the New York State Capitol Building are constructed from it, as are dozens of historically significant buildings in Western New York, New York City, and London.

Labor Market County Stats

Wyoming

Wyoming County

In Wyoming County, it’s easy to satisfy the most sophisticated and down-to-earth tastes with its mix of quaint villages, unique shops, excellent restaurants, and natural retreats. Each year thousands of outdoor enthusiasts flock to Letchworth Park—the “Grand Canyon of the East”—to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, and camping. Gaslight Village, still lit by gas lamps, has more than 70 homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Campgrounds, cabins, bed and breakfasts, and resorts abound, and summer fun in particular can be found in the area surrounding Silver Lake State Park—if you’re lucky, you may even catch sight of the legendary Silver Lake Serpent (our region’s own Loch Ness-type legend).

Labor Market County Stats

Allegany