City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Buffalo, NY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Buffalo - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

276,397
Residents
$48,050
Median income
$152,300
Median home
$1,343
Median rent (state)

Buffalo - the verdict

Nationally, Buffalo sits in the 17th percentile for household income and the 5th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

17th
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
49th
percentile, median rent
5th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Buffalo, NY

Buffalo is a mid-sized U.S. city in New York, home to 276,397 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Buffalo brings in $48,050 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 22.3%. Typical homes in Buffalo are valued around $152,300, and the median resident age is 34.3 years. About 30.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 183 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 37% from five years earlier. Buffalo's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 4515.8 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Buffalo's yearly average temperature at 48.8°F with 40.7 inches of precipitation per year and 95.4 inches of snowfall.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,343 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $285 across New York, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 97.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

276,397 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$48,050 /yr

Poverty 22.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Buffalo compare to other US cities?

Where Buffalo sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 49% pricier than other cities
Safety 5% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at New York, Buffalo ranks #51 of 55 New York cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Buffalo against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New York only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New York-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Buffalo's strongest outlier among New York cities

Among the 1,246 New York cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Buffalo ranks #63 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Buffalo only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,116 of 1,205
7th percentile in New York
Median Gross Rent
#819 of 1,256
31st percentile in New York
Median Home Value
#857 of 1,202
29th percentile in New York
Poverty Rate
#63 of 1,246
95th percentile in New York
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#688 of 1,254
45th percentile in New York

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New York only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

17thIncome percentile
5thSafety percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income · 5th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Buffalo's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Buffalo's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 28 Avg. percentile National median
Buffalo's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Buffalo's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$152,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Buffalo $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Buffalo, NY Buffalo, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buffalo, NY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Buffalo, NY median $48,050/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Buffalo, NY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Buffalo, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 22.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
276,397
Median Income
$48,050
Median Home Value
$152,300
Median Age
34.3
Poverty Rate
22.3%
Labor force participation
55.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4515.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
706.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3809.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
48.8°F
Annual Precipitation
40.7"
Annual Snowfall
95.4"

Schools

Total Schools
87
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
274,000 residents275,000 residents276,000 residents277,000 residents278,000 residents279,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 277,750 residents 274,613 residents ▼ -1.1%
Buffalo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
183
housing units authorized
Single-Family
31
detached homes
Multifamily
152
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 291
2020 240
2021 292
2022 245
2023 173
2024 183

Permit volume decreased 37% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
64.5%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
8.5%
Walk
4.7%
Work from Home
9.6%
Other
2.8%

Based on 119,488 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New York state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Buffalo sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,343/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Rochester
209,720 people
Yonkers
209,529 people
Syracuse
146,211 people
Albany
100,081 people
New Rochelle
81,591 people
Cheektowaga
76,251 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo's 276,397 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Madison, WI
275,568 people
Chula Vista, CA
275,030 people
Chandler, AZ
278,123 people
Gilbert, AZ
271,118 people
North Las Vegas, NV
270,773 people
Reno, NV
268,959 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo's $48,050 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kwethluk, AK
$48,056 median income
Julesburg, CO
$48,056 median income
McAlester, OK
$48,044 median income
Tipton, PA
$48,056 median income
Amelia, LA
$48,060 median income
Kinder, LA
$48,063 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buffalo, NY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Buffalo, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 45.4% 32.9% 8.2% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.7% White 45.4% Black or African American 32.9% Asian 8.2% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.7% Two or more races 7.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Buffalo compares to nearby New York cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Buffalo (this city) 276,397 $48,050
Rochester 209,720 $46,628
Yonkers 209,529 $81,816
Syracuse 146,211 $45,845
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buffalo, NY?

What is the population of Buffalo, NY? +

The population of Buffalo, NY stands at 276,397 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Buffalo, NY? +

In Buffalo, the typical household earns $48,050 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Buffalo? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Buffalo; the closest available measure is the New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

Is Buffalo, NY safe? +

Buffalo has a total crime rate of 4515.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Buffalo, NY? +

Homes in Buffalo carry a median value of $152,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Buffalo? +

The average annual temperature in Buffalo runs 48.8°F, 40.7 inches of precipitation, and 95.4 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.