METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Buffalo Metro

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY · 2 counties · 1,189,288 residents · 1,565.111 sq mi

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The short version

Buffalo has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $28,080. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $71,484.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Mid-age

median age 34.7

US median: 33.0

Average education

19% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

1,189,288

+2%vs 2000

vs 1,170,111 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Population density

760 / sq mi

+2%vs 2000

vs 748 / sq mi in 2000

US average: 221

Median age

34.7

−9%vs 2000

vs 38.0 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Population, 1990 – 2024

20241.2M

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$28,080

−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $38,486 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$13,402

−33%vs 2000

vs $20,143 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

12.0%

+0.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 11.9% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$71,484

+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $86,828 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$380

−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $509 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

64.5%

−1.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 66.2% in 2000

35.5% rent

Afford Score

2.5

+13%vs 2000

vs 2.3 in 2000

1990 – 2024

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)

1990

White, non-Hispanic87.2%(1,036,941)

Black10.2%(121,751)

Hispanic / Latino2%(23,521)

Asian0.9%(10,909)

Other1.7%(19,687)

Diversity Score32.3%(383,831)

Diversity Score

−8%vs 2000

vs 35 in 2000

1990 – 2024

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

18.8%

−4.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 23.2% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

76.3%

−6.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 83.0% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

7.5%

−2.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 9.5% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

18.3 min

+41%vs 2000

vs 13.0 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

In this metro

Principal cities

BuffaloCENTRAL274,613 CheektowagaCENTRAL76,056

What's inside

2 component counties

Erie CountyCENTRAL946,741 Niagara CountyCENTRAL208,912

Drill deeper

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BUFFALO VS

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY has about 1,189,288 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY earns about $28,080 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 $71,484, and the typical rent is about $380 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?

About 18.8% 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 12.0% of people in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY live below the federal poverty line.

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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 →