PlainZIP

Buffalo, NY · standard

ZIP Code 14226

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

29,267
1,633/sq mi
$84,325
Median income
$263,800
Median home value
58.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 33%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 40%
home value, US ZIPs
1,633
people per sq mi
71%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 14226 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 14226 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, with 29,267 residents across 17.9 square miles, a density of 1,633 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 14226 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $84,325 (9% below the New York average), while per-capita income is $52,261. Local economic indicators show a 11.6% poverty rate alongside 2.7% unemployment. Median home value sits at $263,800 (30% below the state average), median rent at $1,136 a month, and owner-occupancy at 71.0%.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 58.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37, and the average commute is 18 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 14226 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 14226

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Buffalo, NY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 14226.

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 14226, 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

29,267

Population

17.9

Area (sq mi)

1,633

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 14226?

37.0

Median Age

48.7%

Male

51.3%

Female

13.6%

Foreign-Born

White 75.3%
African American 8.4%
Asian 9.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%

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?

$84,325

Median Household Income

-9% vs state

$52,261

Per Capita Income

11.6%

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Unemployment Rate

17.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 14226 ranks nationally

Buffalo, NY household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$84,325 Top 33% higher than 67% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $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 71.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 58.5%

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

What does housing look like?

13,212

Total Housing Units

12,449

Occupied Units

763

Vacant Units

2.27

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 71.0%
Renter 29.0%

$263,800

Median Home Value

-30% vs state

$1,136

Median Rent

1953

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

+9.2%

YoY Change (2024)

305

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+205%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 14226 have increased 9.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +205% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.2% 205
2021 +12.6% 231
2022 +15.8% 268
2023 +4.3% 279
2024 +9.2% 305

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 906 business establishments in ZIP 14226, employing approximately 14,884 people with a combined annual payroll of $676,101,000.

906

Businesses

14,884

Employees

$676.1M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 157 17.3%
Health care and social assistance 147 16.2%
Accommodation and food services 103 11.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 101 11.2%
Other services (except public administration) 91 10.0%
Finance and insurance 62 6.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 57 6.3%
Construction 54 6.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 40 4.4%
Wholesale trade 28 3.1%
Educational services 16 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 12 1.3%
Manufacturing 11 1.2%
Transportation and warehousing 11 1.2%
Information 10 1.1%
Management of companies and enterprises 5 0.6%

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 14226 vs 14261 →

ZIP 14226 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 14226 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 14226 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 14226 ranks #2 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
14261 Buffalo, NY 5,713 2.2 mi
14215 Buffalo, NY 39,999 2.5 mi
14223 Buffalo, NY 22,665 2.4 mi
14214 Buffalo, NY 19,775 3.0 mi
14217 Buffalo, NY 23,480 4.0 mi
14211 Buffalo, NY 22,611 4.5 mi
14221 Buffalo, NY 53,555 3.9 mi
14216 Buffalo, NY 22,431 3.5 mi
14228 Buffalo, NY 20,857 4.9 mi
14225 Buffalo, NY 33,385 3.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Erie County

14221 standard
Buffalo, NY
Pop: 53,555
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

Related Areas

Erie County Buffalo, NY New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 14226 in? ▼
ZIP code 14226 (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 14226? ▼
ZIP code 14226 in Buffalo, NY has a population of 29,267 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 14226? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 14226 is $84,325, which is 11% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 14226? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 14226 is $263,800, which is 5% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 14226? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 14226 is White at 75.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 14226? ▼
ZIP code 14226 has 906 business establishments employing approximately 14,884 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 14226? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 14226 are: Retail trade (157), Health care and social assistance (147), Accommodation and food services (103). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 14226? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 14226 increased by 9.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 205%. 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 14226? ▼
In ZIP code 14226, 71.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 58.5% 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 14226? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 14226 is 17.7 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 14226? ▼
In ZIP code 14226, approximately 71.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 14226? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 14226 is 11.6% 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.