Census ACS · #50 MSA
Buffalo Metro Area
The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, Ny Metropolitan Statistical Area has 1,161,385 residents. The median household income is $70,572 and the median home value is $209,600.
1,161,385
Population
742
People / sq mi
$70,572
Median Income
$209,600
Median Home Value
The Buffalo CBSA covers 1,565 sq mi of land at 742.0 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 76.3% |
| Black or African American | 11.6% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.3% |
Economy & Income
$70,572
Median Household Income
$40,894
Per Capita Income
9.5%
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Buffalo metro's price level is 95.8 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 4.2% lower the US average. The local median income of $70,572 has the buying power of $73,632 in average-priced US metros.
95.8
Price Level (US = 100)
$73,632
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$70,572
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$209,600
Median Home Value
$1,005
Median Rent
66.5%
Homeownership
Education
92.4%
High School+
35.1%
Bachelor's+
Commute
2.6%
Drive Alone
11.0%
Work From Home
21.5 min
Avg Commute
10.2%
Foreign Born
Buffalo spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in New York
Largest counties in New York
Part of New York
Other metros
Metro areas in New York
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, Ny Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 1,161,385 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #50 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Buffalo metro area is $70,572, with a per capita income of $40,894.
The Buffalo-Cheektowaga, Ny CBSA spans the state of New York.
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More from New York
Data for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, Ny CBSA (15380) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
What distinguishes Buffalo is density: among the most densely settled of US metro areas, around 742 people per square mile. With 1,161,385 residents, Buffalo is a metro area in NY.
Median household income is $70,572, below the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate is 9.5%, below the national 12.4%. Homes carry a median value of $209,600, with typical rent around $1,005.
College attainment is above the local norm at 35.1%, near the national 35.0%.
That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Buffalo: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.