PlainZIP

Buffalo, NY · standard

ZIP Code 14221

Erie County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

53,555
899/sq mi
$101,615
Median income
$329,600
Median home value
57.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Buffalo pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated and unusually populous area.

Top 18%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 29%
home value, US ZIPs
899
people per sq mi
75%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 14221 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 14221 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, with 53,555 residents across 59.6 square miles, a density of 899 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 14221 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $101,615 (10% above the New York average), while per-capita income is $56,851. Poverty here runs at 7.1%, with unemployment measured at 2.6%. Housing costs here run $329,600 for a typical home value (13% below the state average), with rent averaging $1,603 a month; 75.0% of homes are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 57.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.3, and the average commute is 19 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Erie County, letting you compare 14221 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 14221

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Buffalo, NY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 14221.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 14221, 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

53,555

Population

59.6

Area (sq mi)

899

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 14221?

47.3

Median Age

48.3%

Male

51.7%

Female

9.7%

Foreign-Born

White 84.6%
African American 2.2%
Asian 6.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.9%
Hispanic or Latino 3.6%

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?

$101,615

Median Household Income

+10% vs state

$56,851

Per Capita Income

7.1%

Poverty Rate

2.6%

Unemployment Rate

19.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 14221 ranks nationally

Buffalo, NY household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$101,615 Top 18% higher than 82% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 71.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 57.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

25,661

Total Housing Units

24,532

Occupied Units

1,129

Vacant Units

2.19

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.0%
Renter 25.0%

$329,600

Median Home Value

-13% vs state

$1,603

Median Rent

1970

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

+4.9%

YoY Change (2024)

286

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+186%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 14221 have increased 4.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +186% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.5% 194
2021 +10.7% 215
2022 +17.3% 253
2023 +8.2% 273
2024 +4.9% 286

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 2,431 business establishments in ZIP 14221, employing approximately 46,958 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,473,633,000.

2,431

Businesses

46,958

Employees

$2.5B

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 396 16.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 307 12.6%
Finance and insurance 263 10.8%
Retail trade 252 10.4%
Other services (except public administration) 230 9.5%
Accommodation and food services 211 8.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 178 7.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 121 5.0%
Construction 112 4.6%
Management of companies and enterprises 79 3.3%
Wholesale trade 72 3.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 54 2.2%
Educational services 45 1.9%
Transportation and warehousing 38 1.6%
Information 36 1.5%
Manufacturing 33 1.4%
Utilities 3 0.1%

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 14221 vs 14026 →

ZIP 14221 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 14221 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 14221 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 14221 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
14026 Bowmansville, NY 674 3.1 mi
14225 Buffalo, NY 33,385 3.8 mi
14068 Getzville, NY 7,150 3.7 mi
14261 Buffalo, NY 5,713 3.5 mi
14226 Buffalo, NY 29,267 3.9 mi
14051 East Amherst, NY 19,533 4.5 mi
14043 Depew, NY 24,742 5.5 mi
14227 Buffalo, NY 23,426 6.7 mi
14228 Buffalo, NY 20,857 5.1 mi
14031 Clarence, NY 9,392 5.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Erie County

14075 standard
Hamburg, NY
Pop: 41,937
14150 standard
Tonawanda, NY
Pop: 41,676
14215 standard
Buffalo, NY
Pop: 39,999
14224 standard
Buffalo, NY
Pop: 39,889
14225 standard
Buffalo, NY
Pop: 33,385
14086 standard
Lancaster, NY
Pop: 31,847

Related Areas

Erie County Buffalo, NY New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 14221 in? ▼
ZIP code 14221 (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 14221? ▼
ZIP code 14221 in Buffalo, NY has a population of 53,555 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 14221? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 14221 is $101,615, which is 33% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 14221? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 14221 is $329,600, which is 18% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 14221? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 14221 is White at 84.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 14221? ▼
ZIP code 14221 has 2,431 business establishments employing approximately 46,958 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 14221? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 14221 are: Health care and social assistance (396), Professional, scientific, and technical services (307), Finance and insurance (263). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 14221? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 14221 increased by 4.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 186%. 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 14221? ▼
In ZIP code 14221, 71.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 57.3% 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 14221? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 14221 is 19.2 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 14221? ▼
In ZIP code 14221, approximately 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 14221? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 14221 is 7.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.