Real Estate Investing in Niagara Falls, New York (14304)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Niagara County • Population: 28,965 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 14304 (Niagara Falls, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Niagara Falls, NY (14304)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $212,343
Avg Monthly Rent $1,328
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,161
% Renters 25.5%

Market Analysis: 14304 Niagara Falls

ZIP 14304 in Niagara Falls, NY carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $212K and rents of $1,328/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $212K asset, 14304 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

In the broader NY picture, 14304 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Employment concentration in 14304 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 14304 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Niagara Falls:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,328/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
24 days
Average time to sell
Fast
8.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 14304

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$54,470/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $109,282 $1,000 6.6% $109,282
2BR $155,714 $1,180 5.5% +8.9% $77,857
3BR $204,716 $1,440 5.1% +7.7% $68,239
4BR $232,980 $1,640 5.1% +7.8% $58,245
5BR $272,348 +8.0% $54,470

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$223K$193K$163K$133K$104K$74KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,411$1,351$1,291$1,230$1,170$1,110Jan 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 14304 Compare?

Metric 14304 Niagara Falls Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY New York
Home Value $212,343 $119,992 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 6.8% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,328 $1,282 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 7.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 14304? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 14304 (Niagara Falls, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 14304 (Niagara Falls, NY)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $212,343
Monthly Rent $1,328
Price-to-Rent 13.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.5%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
6.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 14304

Population: 28,965

💰 Median Household Income
$64,161
This area
$64,161
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.5%
This area
25.5%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.1%
This area
25.1%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.0 years
This area
44.0 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.1%
Other/Mixed 6.6%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Black/African American 2.4%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.4%
This area
8.4%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 14304

A+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$23,668 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

CATARACT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
534 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$25,617 Per Student
A+ Excellent

LASALLE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,617 Per Student
A Very Good

GERALDINE J MANN SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$25,617 Per Student
A Very Good

SEVENTY NINTH STREET SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
417 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,617 Per Student
B+ Above Average

NIAGARA CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 K – 06 School Charter
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,870 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 3,085 Off-Campus Students
C+
Niagara University
4,221 students · 4.9 mi
C
Niagara County Community College
4,217 students · 5.0 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda
139 students · 10.5 mi
B
University at Buffalo
31,889 students · 10.8 mi
C+
SUNY Buffalo State University
6,470 students · 12.2 mi
C
Daemen University
2,625 students · 12.6 mi
C
Professional Culinary Academy
17 students · 13.1 mi
C+
Canisius University
2,545 students · 13.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,085 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do rentals go for in Niagara Falls, NY?

Rental rates in Niagara Falls, NY average $1,328/mo. Tenant demand and $212K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What is the tenant pool like in Niagara Falls, NY?

The tenant pool in Niagara Falls, NY is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,328/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Which real estate strategy fits Niagara Falls, NY?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Niagara Falls, NY. The numbers - $212K homes against $1,328/mo rents - support that play.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Niagara Falls, NY?

The house hack math a challenging in Niagara Falls, NY. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,328/mo rents and $212K home values.

Is Niagara Falls, NY a friendly market for rental owners?

Niagara Falls, NY falls under NY landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 14304 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 14304 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 14304 ranks in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 14304 (Niagara Falls)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 14304 (Niagara Falls, NY).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.