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276,854 residents · 2024 ACS · source-led profile

Moving to Buffalo?

The 2024 ACS 5-year estimates provide insights into Buffalo, New York's demographics. The city has a population of 276,854 and a median household income of $50,041. The median gross rent is $1,046 per month, while the median owner-occupied home value is $164,200. A derived one-way commute estimate is 22 minutes.

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Short answer

Buffalo's affordability is uncertain, with median household income at $50,041 and median gross rent at $1,046 per month. Compared to a uniform non-housing calculator baseline of $1,250 per month, the city's housing costs are relatively low, but individual circumstances may vary.

Buffalo at a glance

Household income$50,041
Median gross rent$1,046
Median home value$164,200
Derived commute22 min

What the default budget models

A one-person renting household begins with a modeled annual core-cost baseline of $27,552. It combines the ACS median gross-rent estimate with a uniform $1,250 monthly non-housing baseline. State income tax is excluded until a current official reference is approved; the calculator labels that limitation instead of guessing.

2024 ACS population estimate276,854
2024 ACS median household income$50,041
2024 ACS median gross rent$1,046
2024 ACS median owner-occupied home value$164,200
Derived one-way commute estimate22 minutes
State-tax treatmentExcluded — official reference pending
Rent-to-income reference25%
Salary & Affordability Benchmark

How much do you need to earn to live in Buffalo?

2024 ACS Median Income

$50,041/yr

30% Rule for RentRecommended
$41,840 / year

To afford Buffalo's median gross rent of $1,046/mo at or below 30% of gross earnings, a household needs approximately $20.12/hour (full-time).

28% Rule for HomeownershipMedian Home
$41,657 / year

Modeled against Buffalo's median home benchmark of $164,200 (estimated $972/mo ownership carrying cost at typical 7.1% baseline).

Slide to test your income against local rent, taxes, and essentials.
$50,041gross/year
Affordability Status:Balanced
Rent is 25% of gross income (32% of net pay)

Rent aligns with the standard 30% rule (25% of gross pay). Standard budgeting applies.

Monthly Budget AllocationEstimated Net Take-Home: $3,246/mo
Tax 22%
Rent 25%
Essentials 30%
Savings 23%
Taxes: $917/mo Rent: $1,046/mo Essentials: $1,250/mo Discretionary Margin: $950/mo

The trade-off

Relative strength: Affordability uncertain. Watch closely: housing costs vs income.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the median household income in Buffalo?

The median household income in Buffalo is $50,041, according to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.

How much is the median gross rent in Buffalo?

The median gross rent in Buffalo is $1,046 per month, based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.

Source ledger

Every production input below is retained with its publisher and dataset. The ACS figures are five-year estimates, not live listings or guarantees.

Interpretation: The ACS 2024 five-year estimates generally summarize observations across 2020–2024. The commute number is a weighted midpoint estimate from table B08303. State income tax is not included in the modeled take-home result. Verify a current address, quote, commute, and tax situation before making a decision.

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