Probably the only reason it is showing as the fastest real estate market is because the statistics take into account number of houses being sold and bought...not by whom they are being sold and bought by. There are many (which I have come across) people in this area moving within the county from one area to another. So truly these statistics do not show what is really happening; and it does not truly mean at all that it is an economically growing area.
Just because home prices have gone up, does not mean it is good growth. Actually, it seems as if the rise in housing prices for Buffalo/Niagra region only shows that the cost of living in these areas are rising at a ridiculous rate...naturally and not surprisingly to accompany the taxes in the area.