Buffalo, NY Local Data & Statistics

State: NY

Total population: 276,854 Household income: $50,041 Rent: $1,046

Overview

Total population

276,854

Rent

$1,046

Year built

1938

Household income

$50,041

Per capita income

$31,843

Poverty rate

26%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

49.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

New York

Total population

276,854

Adults over 25

184,827

Total households

119,630

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$50,041

Per capita income

$31,843

Poverty rate

26%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Rent over 30% of income

49.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,046

Year built

1938

Households that rent

57%

Households that own

43%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

44.3%

Black

32.2%

Asian

8.8%

Two or more races

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

12.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

87.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

88.7%

Commute time to work

20 mins

Work from home

11.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.3%

High school graduate or GED

27%

Some college or associate degree

11.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

31.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Buffalo, NY with: New York State United States

Buffalo, NY

Total population276,854

Rent$1,046

Year built1938

Household income$50,041

Per capita income$31,843

Poverty rate26%

Unemployment rate4.6%

New York State

Total population19,852,366

Rent$1,621

Year built1959

Household income$85,974

Per capita income$50,712

Poverty rate14%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityBuffalo, NY	StateNew York	CountryUnited States
Total population	276,854	19,852,366	334,922,499
Rent	$1,046	$1,621	$1,413
Year built	1938	1959	1980
Household income	$50,041	$85,974	$80,734
Per capita income	$31,843	$50,712	$44,673
Poverty rate	26%	14%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	4.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Buffalo, NY, New York and United States →

Summary for Buffalo, NY

Buffalo is located in New York.

Rent & Income

In Buffalo, the typical monthly rent is $1,046 and the typical household income is $50,041. Rent here is lower than in both New York and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 26%, which is higher than in both New York and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 57% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 49.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 31.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, which is higher than both New York and the national rate.

Buffalo, NY — Rent vs Household Income

Buffalo, NY — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Buffalo, NY compares in New York State (13 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,046	3 / 13	from lower rent	$951 – $2,269
Household income	$50,041	11 / 13	from higher income	$47,213 – $110,763
Poverty rate	26%	10 / 13	from lower poverty	10.1% – 28.8%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	12 / 13	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 5.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in New York State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Buffalo, NY

Rent

Rent prices put Buffalo in 3rd place among 13 large communities in New York. Across New York, rents range from $951 in Utica, NY up to $2,269 in White Plains, NY.

Household income

Looking at household income, Buffalo places 11th out of 13 significant areas. Incomes across New York range between $47,213 in Rochester, NY and $110,763 in White Plains, NY.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Buffalo ranks 10th out of 13 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 10.1% in New Rochelle, NY to 28.8% in Syracuse, NY.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Buffalo in 12th place among 13 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.8% in White Plains, NY to 5.2% in New York, NY.

💰 Rent in Buffalo, NY (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,046 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Buffalo, NY

Annual Household Income: $50,041

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Buffalo, NY

Estimated Rate: 26%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Buffalo, NY

In Buffalo, NY, households that rent: 68,134 (57%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	68,134	57%
Owner-Occupied	51,496	43%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Buffalo, NY

In Buffalo, NY, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 33,602 (49.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	33,602	49.3%
Other renter households	34,532	50.7%
Total renter households	68,134	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Buffalo, NY

Less than High School: 55,953 people (30.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 49,903 people (27%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 21,327 people (11.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 57,644 people (31.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 184,827

📊 Unemployment Rate in Buffalo, NY

Estimated Rate: 4.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Chandler, AZ278,123 Madison, WI275,568 Chula Vista, CA275,030 Gilbert, AZ271,118 North Las Vegas, NV270,773 Reno, NV268,959 Toledo, OH268,461 Plano, TX287,339 Fort Wayne, IN266,235 Durham, NC288,465

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.