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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Buffalo Metro

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY · 2 counties · 1,166,902 residents · 1,565.111 sq mi
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The short version

Buffalo has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $59,061. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $155,397.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.8
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,166,902
Unchangedsince 2000
from 1,170,111 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
746 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2000
from 748 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
40.7
+7%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
1.1M1.1M1.2M1.2M1.2M1990201020202024Buffalo
20241.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,061
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,486 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,451
+71%since 2000
from $20,143 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
39.6%
+11.2 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade10.9%
US avg: 10%
Other services8.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration6.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$155,397
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,828 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$827
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $509 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
63.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 66.2% in 2000
36.5% rent
Afford Score
2.6
+17%since 2000
from 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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic73%(851,927)
Black12.5%(146,080)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(67,476)
Asian4.2%(48,529)
Other3.2%(37,704)
Diversity Score53.8%(627,900)
Segregation Score54.7%(637,894)
Diversity Score
54
+54%since 2000
from 35 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
55
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.4%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.0%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 83.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
14.6%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+67%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 81.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
12.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
40.3%
−25.0 ptssince 2009
from 65.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
6.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
3.1%
−89.9 ptssince 2013
from 93.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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$72,464+23%
Home value$241,872+56%
Population1,197,766+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Fresno
Income$74,533+26%
Home value$389,401+151%
Population1,203,383+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Tucson
Income$70,315+19%
Home value$319,700+106%
Population1,074,685−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Tulsa
Income$69,648+18%
Home value$220,806+42%
Population1,069,273−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY has about 1,166,902 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY earns about $59,061 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 $155,397, and the typical rent is about $827 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?

About 33.4% 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 13.5% 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 22,386 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

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