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 High-density area
- $101,615
- Median income Above-median income area
- $329,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 57.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 14221 (Buffalo, NY) rose +4.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 273.2 in 2023 to 286.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average New York ZIP), while per-capita income is $56,851. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 7.1% and unemployment is 2.6%. Median home value is $329,600 (13% below the average New York ZIP) and median rent is $1,603; 75.0% of occupied 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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Erie County, so 14221 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 14221
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Buffalo, NY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 14221.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
396 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
307 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
263 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
252 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
230 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 14221?
47.3
Median Age
48.3%
Male
51.7%
Female
9.7%
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?
$101,615
Median Household Income
+10% vs state ZIP avg
$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
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
25,661housing units
25,661
Total Housing Units
24,532
Occupied Units
1,129
Vacant Units
2.19
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$329,600
Median Home Value
-13% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 14221
Buffalo (14221)
53,555 residents
- 14225
Buffalo (14225)
33,385 residents
- 14226
Buffalo (14226)
29,267 residents
- 14043
Depew (14043)
24,742 residents
- 14227
Buffalo (14227)
23,426 residents
- 14228 20,857
Buffalo (14228)
20,857 residents
- 14051 19,533
East Amherst (14051)
19,533 residents
- 14031 9,392
Clarence (14031)
9,392 residents
- 14068 7,150
Getzville (14068)
7,150 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 14221 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 14221 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 14051
East Amherst (14051)
$135,663 median income
- 14031
Clarence (14031)
$103,750 median income
- 14221
Buffalo (14221)
$101,615 median income
- 14068
Getzville (14068)
$98,750 median income
- 14026
Bowmansville (14026)
$88,750 median income
- 14226
Buffalo (14226)
$84,325 median income
- 14228
Buffalo (14228)
$74,871 median income
- 14043
Depew (14043)
$74,112 median income
- 14227
Buffalo (14227)
$68,928 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 14221, 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 (53,555 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 14221's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 14221 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.