City · New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, city, in Erie County, New York. Buffalo had 274,613 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 278,349 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 276,854 (±74). GEOID 3611000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
274,613
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 278,349 · ACS 2020-2024: 276,854 ±74
Median household income
$50,041
±$1,988 (90% margin)
New York: $85,974
Median home value
$164,200
±$5,446 (90% margin)
New York: $423,800
Median gross rent
$1,046
±$18 (90% margin)
New York: $1,621
Where is Buffalo and what county is it in?
Buffalo is a city in Erie County, New York. It covers 40.4 square miles of land, 6,893 residents per square mile in 2020.
Buffalo is in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Buffalo, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 274,613 people lived in Buffalo on July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, in line with New York (−1.0%). The 2020 Census counted 278,349 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 276,854 (±74).
| Measure | Buffalo | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 276,854 ±74 | 950,622 | +20,374 |
| Households | 119,630 ±1,553 | 409,665 | +9,203 |
| Average household size | 2.25 ±0.03 | 2.26 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 136,850 ±1,365 | 441,214 | +5,759 |
Buffalo's population since 2000
From 292,648 in 2000 to 274,613 in 2025: down 6.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Buffalo as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Buffalo?
The median resident of Buffalo is 34.3 years old; 22.3% are under 18 and 14.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 42.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 31.3%. 10.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Buffalo | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 ±0.5 | 40.4 | +1.2 |
| Under 18 years | 22.3% ±0.5 pts | 20.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.2% ±0.4 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Male | 47.7% ±0.5 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.3% ±0.5 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 42.4% ±0.8 pts | 72.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 31.3% ±0.8 pts | 12.1% | −4.2 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 8.7% ±0.6 pts | 4.9% | +2.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±0.5 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.9% ±0.6 pts | 7.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.2% ±0.9 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.0% ±0.4 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 16.3% ±0.8 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.1% ±0.4 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.0% ±0.7 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31.2% ±1.1 pts | 38.0% | +3.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.2% ±0.8 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.1% ±0.9 pts | 89.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±0.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Buffalo earn?
Half of Buffalo's 119,630 households earn less than $50,041 a year (±$1,988), against $72,839 in Erie County and $85,974 in New York. In 2015-2019 the median was $45,971 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,070 after inflation. 26.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Buffalo | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,041 ±$1,988 | $72,839 | +$4,070 |
| Mean household income | $71,605 ±$1,810 | $97,738 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,843 ±$777 | $42,777 | +$1,814 |
| People below the poverty line | 26.0% ±1.0 pts | 13.9% | −4.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 35.5% ±2.3 pts | 18.5% | −10.5 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 29.3% ±1.1 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.7% ±0.6 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.5% ±0.8 pts | 90.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Buffalo?
Owners occupy 43.0% of Buffalo's occupied homes and renters 57.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $164,200 by its owner (±$5,446). The median renter pays $1,046 a month including utilities, and 44.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Buffalo | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $164,200 ±$5,446 | $233,800 | +$53,684 |
| Median gross rent | $1,046 ±$18 | $1,090 | +$91 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.1% ±2.1 pts | 41.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,207 ±$35 | $1,619 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 43.0% ±1.2 pts | 65.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 57.0% ±1.2 pts | 34.2% | – |
| Housing units | 136,850 ±1,365 | 441,214 | +5,759 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.3% ±0.7 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 36.2% ±1.0 pts | 58.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.4% ±0.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 61.0% ±1.3 pts | 29.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 22.6% ±1.2 pts | 11.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Buffalo building?
Builders took permits for 200 new housing units in Buffalo in 2025 (31 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 2 of 12 months), 0.7 per 1,000 residents against 1.9 across New York.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Buffalo work and get to work?
62.8% of Buffalo's workers drive alone and 11.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.3%.
| Measure | Buffalo | Erie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.4% ±1.0 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% ±0.7 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.8% ±1.3 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.2% ±0.9 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 8.1% ±0.8 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Walked | 4.5% ±0.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.3% ±0.8 pts | 12.9% | +8.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.9 min ±0.5 | 21.3 min | −1.1 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Buffalo?
92 census tracts lie mostly in Buffalo, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $20,974 (Tract 14.04) to $108,426 (Tract 169).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 10Erie County | 6,641 | $60,436 |
| Tract 43Erie County | 6,501 | $47,427 |
| Tract 58.02Erie County | 5,622 | $47,775 |
| Tract 47.02Erie County | 5,537 | $41,617 |
| Tract 63.01Erie County | 5,378 | $82,019 |
| Tract 171Erie County | 5,367 | $39,763 |
| Tract 45Erie County | 5,318 | $91,652 |
| Tract 56Erie County | 5,044 | $45,750 |
| Tract 24Erie County | 5,021 | $44,164 |
| Tract 8Erie County | 4,840 | $69,407 |
| Tract 6Erie County | 4,782 | $87,992 |
| Tract 37Erie County | 4,655 | $47,708 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Buffalo) · Census block assignment files
How does Buffalo compare with other places in New York?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Buffalo is the 83rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 594 in New York.
Buffalo ranks 1,553rd of 1,623 places in New York with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 594 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 656th | 1,225 |
| Residents per square mile | 78th | 1,657 |
| Median household income | 1,553rd | 1,623 |
| Per capita income | 1,393rd | 1,653 |
| Median home value | 1,192nd | 1,637 |
| Median gross rent | 862nd | 1,515 |
| Poverty rate | 59th | 1,331 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 859th | 1,640 |
| Median age | 1,520th | 1,654 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,587th | 1,639 |
| Work from home | 781st | 1,350 |
| Travel time to work | 1,399th | 1,652 |
Buffalo's figures with every place in New York (CSV)
Every place in New York, sortable · Compare Buffalo with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Buffalo?
1 of the 57 figures for Buffalo on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Buffalo are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Buffalo.