Buffalo, NY — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 276,397 · New York · Updated May 2026
Population
276,397
Median Income
$48,050
Home Price
$241,380
Unemployment
7.2%
Poverty Rate
27.4%
Bachelor's+
30.3%
Full Demographics — Buffalo, NY
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 276,397 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 10.5% | 13.8% | |
| White | 45.4% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 32.9% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 8.2% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 12.7% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $48,050 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $30,995 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,425 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 27.4% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 30.3% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $241,380 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 434 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1736 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 38.4% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 13.4% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.1% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.4% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.3% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.5% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 48.3°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 40.5 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.1 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 21.6 min | 27.0 min |
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About Buffalo, NY
Buffalo is a city in New York, United States. With a population of 276,397, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Buffalo shows stronger commute time (22 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg) and air quality (75% good air days vs 70% good air days US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 30.3% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.