Buffalo, NY · standard
ZIP Code 14215
Erie County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 39,999
- 3,133/sq mi High-density area
- $44,955
- Median income Below-median income area
- $111,600
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 20.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Buffalo pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 9th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 13th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3,133
- people per sq mi
- 50%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 14215 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 14215 (Buffalo, NY) rose +5.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 296.9 in 2023 to 313.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 14215 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, with 39,999 residents across 12.8 square miles, a density of 3,133 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 14215 reports a modest median household income of $44,955 (51% below the average New York ZIP), while per-capita income is $24,751. The poverty rate is 28.8%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $111,600 (71% below the average New York ZIP), and median rent is $1,039; owner occupancy is 50.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.8, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Erie County, so 14215 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 14215
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Buffalo, NY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 14215.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
95 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
76 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
54 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
40 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 36
Accommodation and food services
36 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 14215, Buffalo, NY · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
39,999
Population
12.8
Area (sq mi)
3,133
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 14215?
31.8
Median Age
43.3%
Male
56.7%
Female
12.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$44,955
Median Household Income
-51% vs state ZIP avg
$24,751
Per Capita Income
28.8%
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Unemployment Rate
21.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 14215 ranks nationally
Buffalo, NY household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$44,955 9th percentile higher than 9% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,809housing units
18,809
Total Housing Units
16,733
Occupied Units
2,076
Vacant Units
2.43
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$111,600
Median Home Value
-71% vs state ZIP avg
$1,039
Median Rent
1938
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+5.6%
YoY Change (2024)
313
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+213%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 14215 have increased 5.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +213% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.1% | 186 |
| 2021 | +21.1% | 226 |
| 2022 | +18.9% | 268 |
| 2023 | +10.7% | 297 |
| 2024 | +5.6% | 313 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 455 business establishments in ZIP 14215, employing approximately 9,465 people with a combined annual payroll of $804,645,000.
455
Businesses
9,465
Employees
$804.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 95 | 20.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 76 | 16.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 54 | 11.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 40 | 8.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 36 | 7.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 25 | 5.5% |
| Construction | 24 | 5.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 24 | 5.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 20 | 4.4% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 4.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 3.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 12 | 2.6% |
| Information | 4 | 0.9% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 14215 vs 14214 →
ZIP 14215 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 14215
Buffalo (14215)
39,999 residents
- 14225
Buffalo (14225)
33,385 residents
- 14226
Buffalo (14226)
29,267 residents
- 14223
Buffalo (14223)
22,665 residents
- 14211
Buffalo (14211)
22,611 residents
- 14216
Buffalo (14216)
22,431 residents
- 14206
Buffalo (14206)
20,751 residents
- 14214
Buffalo (14214)
19,775 residents
- 14208 11,125
Buffalo (14208)
11,125 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 14215 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 14215 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 14226
Buffalo (14226)
$84,325 median income
- 14223
Buffalo (14223)
$84,161 median income
- 14216
Buffalo (14216)
$69,629 median income
- 14225
Buffalo (14225)
$67,237 median income
- 14214
Buffalo (14214)
$58,228 median income
- 14206
Buffalo (14206)
$50,450 median income
- 14209
Buffalo (14209)
$50,046 median income
- 14208
Buffalo (14208)
$48,476 median income
- 14215
Buffalo (14215)
$44,955 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 14215 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14214 | Buffalo, NY | 19,775 | 1.6 mi |
| 14211 | Buffalo, NY | 22,611 | 2.0 mi |
| 14226 | Buffalo, NY | 29,267 | 2.5 mi |
| 14212 | Buffalo, NY | 10,641 | 2.9 mi |
| 14206 | Buffalo, NY | 20,751 | 3.8 mi |
| 14208 | Buffalo, NY | 11,125 | 2.5 mi |
| 14216 | Buffalo, NY | 22,431 | 2.7 mi |
| 14225 | Buffalo, NY | 33,385 | 3.0 mi |
| 14223 | Buffalo, NY | 22,665 | 3.2 mi |
| 14209 | Buffalo, NY | 7,926 | 3.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 14215, both outside NY so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (39,999 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Erie County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 14215 in?
ZIP code 14215 (Buffalo) is located in Erie County, New York. Erie County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/erie-ny.
What is the population of ZIP code 14215?
ZIP code 14215 in Buffalo, NY has a population of 39,999 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 14215?
The median household income in ZIP 14215 is $44,955, which is 41% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 14215?
The median home value in ZIP 14215 is $111,600, which is 60% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 14215?
The largest racial group in ZIP 14215 is African American at 64.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 14215?
ZIP code 14215 has 455 business establishments employing approximately 9,465 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 14215?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 14215 are: Retail trade (95), Health care and social assistance (76), Other services (except public administration) (54). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 14215?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 14215 increased by 5.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 213%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 14215?
In ZIP code 14215, 51.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 14215?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 14215 is 21.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 14215?
In ZIP code 14215, approximately 50.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 50.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 14215?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 14215 is 28.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 14215's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 14215 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Buffalo, NY ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.