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METRO AREA

Buffalo Metro

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY · 2 counties · 1,155,653 residents (2025 est.) · 1,565.111 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#30Most densely populatedof 925738
The short version

Buffalo has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,257. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $225,816. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,161,343
−1%since 2000
from 1,170,111 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
742 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 748 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.9
+8%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,155,653 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1.1M1.1M1.2M1.2M1.2M1990201020202024Buffalo
20241.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,257
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,486 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,074
+109%since 2000
from $20,143 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.2%
+19.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.460
+2%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services8.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$225,816
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,828 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,055
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $509 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 66.2% in 2000
33.2% rent
Vacancy rate
7.4%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.0%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+39%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
75
RELATED:See current rent listings in Buffalo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.5%(965,233)
Black11.5%(134,645)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(33,967)
Asian1.3%(15,007)
Other0%
Diversity Score34.9%(408,560)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic74.1%(860,202)
Black11.1%(128,476)
Hispanic / Latino6%(69,377)
Asian4.2%(48,904)
Other4.7%(54,384)
Diversity Score53.9%(626,539)
Segregation Score51.3%(595,248)
Diversity Score
54
+55%since 2000
from 35 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
51
−6%since 2020
from 55 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.2%
+13.0 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.4%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 83.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.1%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+66%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.2%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.5%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.4%
−21.9 ptssince 2009
from 65.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
6.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 12.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.9%
−90.1 ptssince 2013
from 93.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.1%
+14.7 ptssince 2017
from 75.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 91.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

BuffaloCENTRAL274,613CheektowagaCENTRAL76,056
What's inside

2 component counties

Erie CountyCENTRAL946,741Niagara CountyCENTRAL208,912
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Buffalo

Birmingham
Pop 1,197,766
Fresno
Pop 1,203,383
Tucson
Pop 1,074,685
Tulsa
Pop 1,069,273
Places similar to Buffalo
Head to head

Compare Buffalo side by side

BUFFALO VS
Birmingham
Income$72,464same
Home value$241,872+7%
Population1,197,766+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Fresno
Income$74,533+3%
Home value$389,401+72%
Population1,203,383+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Tucson
Income$70,315−3%
Home value$319,700+42%
Population1,074,685−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Tulsa
Income$69,648−4%
Home value$220,806−2%
Population1,069,273−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY has about 1,161,343 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?

The typical household in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY earns about $72,257 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY expensive?

In Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, the median home is worth about $225,816, and the typical rent is about $1,055 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?

About 36.2% of adults age 25 and over in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?

About 13.8% of people in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY grown since 1990?

Yes, Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 27,945 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →