Hey, welcome to WNY!
I'm in Niagara county, but I grew up in the Southtowns (not the Southern Tier), and have extended family in the Silver Creek/Fredonia areas. LES storms can hit different areas heavier, and leave other areas only lightly touched. South of Bflo tends to get hit with more snow, and along the lake Erie shoreline (route 5), but it can travel depending on wind direction. The Southern Tier tends to be cooler due to elevation, and of course there is more snow in ski country around Ellicottville.
Some of the area is reservation land. Good to be nearby, for cheaper gas (at least, cheap for NYS). Some villages are built on reservation land; I believe that you can't own the land unless you belong to the tribe, so you lease it long term. I'm not sure I'd go for that, but I really don't know any details.
Since you are unfamiliar with the area, you might rent for a while to get a feel for where you'd really like to be: closer in, further out, Amish areas, wine areas, populated, secluded. We moved from Bflo to rural Niagara county, and one regret I have is that I'd rather be in the village than three miles outside. The ability to walk to the kids' school, library, church, etc. would make things so much easier. Take time to figure out your preferences and priorities before buying. And watch local taxes - there was a village that was forced to raise village taxes some outrageous amount, like 150%, due to some repair that needed to be done.