Western New York is home to 15 four-year colleges and universities and 20 two-year schools, annually graduating more than 20,000. With median regional housing prices slightly above $100,000, average household income of $53,000, and health insurance costs 25% below the national average, our workforce is affordable. Our workforce is 750,000 strong, with the skills and education for 21st century jobs - and an old-fashioned work ethic: our absenteeism and turnover rates are among the lowest in the country.

Population Demographics     The number of households in the study area in 1990 was 461,799 and changed to 468,717 in 2000, representing a change of 1.5%. The household count in 2008 was 457,038 and the household projection for 2013 is 450,330, a change of -1.5%.   The population in the study area in 1990 was 1,189,284 and in 2000 it was 1,170,105, roughly a -1.6% change. The population in 2008 was 1,133,142 and the projection for 2013 is 1,111,971 representing a change of -1.9%.                     Percent Change   1990 Census   2000 Census 2008 Estimate 2013 Projection 1990 to 2000 2008 to 2013 Total Population 1,189,284   1,170,105   1,133,142   1,111,971   -1.6% -1.9% Total Households 461,799   468,717   457,038   450,330   1.5% -1.5% Population by Age   In 1990, the median age of the total population in the study area was 34.7, and in 2000, it was 38.0. The median age in 2008 is 40.0 and it is predicted to change in five years to 40.4 years. In 2008, females represented 51.9% of the population with a median age of 41.9 and males represented 48.1% of the population with a median age of 38.0 years. In 2008, the most prominent age group in this geography is Age 45 to 54 years. The age group least represented in this geography is 0 to 4 years.           Age Groups                 Percent Change   1990 Census % 2000 Census % 2008 Estimate % 2013 Projection % 1990 to 2000 2008 to 2013 0 to 4 82,195 6.9% 71,002 6.1% 63,735 5.6% 66,098 5.9% -13.6% 3.7% 5 to 14 153,845 12.9% 165,266 14.1% 135,251 11.9% 123,032 11.1% 7.4% -9.0% 15 to 19 79,371 6.7% 79,978 6.8% 81,021 7.2% 70,075 6.3% 0.8% -13.5% 20 to 24 90,265 7.6% 69,788 6.0% 83,203 7.3% 78,754 7.1% -22.7% -5.3% 25 to 34 195,158 16.4% 145,389 12.4% 136,429 12.0% 152,096 13.7% -25.5% 11.5% 35 to 44 170,639 14.3% 186,705 16.0% 143,962 12.7% 124,851 11.2% 9.4% -13.3% 45 to 54 119,424 10.0% 160,816 13.7% 174,215 15.4% 158,596 14.3% 34.7% -9.0% 55 to 64 117,857 9.9% 106,020 9.1% 137,013 12.1% 153,475 13.8% -10.0% 12.0% 65 to 74 107,207 9.0% 93,443 8.0% 84,766 7.5% 97,483 8.8% -12.8% 15.0% 75 + 73,328 6.2% 91,699 7.8% 93,550 8.3% 87,454 7.9% 25.1% -6.5%                                             Population by Race/Ethnicity   In 2008, the predominant race/ethnicity category in this study area is White. The race & ethnicity category least represented in this geography is American Indian, Alaska Native.     Race & Ethnicity                 Percent Change   1990 Census % 2000 Census % 2008 Estimate % 2013 Projection % 1990 to 2000 2008 to 2013 White 1,037,207 87.2% 980,340 83.8% 935,225 82.5% 907,715 81.6% -5.5% -2.9% Black 121,956 10.3% 137,049 11.7% 137,721 12.2% 139,263 12.5% 12.4% 1.1% American Indian or Alaska Native 7,613 0.6% 7,824 0.7% 6,384 0.6% 5,070 0.5% 2.8% -20.6% Asian or Pacific Islander 11,028 0.9% 15,376 1.3% 23,405 2.1% 28,751 2.6% 39.4% 22.8% Other Race 11,484 1.0% 14,375 1.2% 13,834 1.2% 16,209 1.5% 25.2% 17.2% Two or More Races     15,141 1.3% 16,574 1.5% 14,963 1.4%   -9.7%                       Hispanic Ethnicity 24,347 2.1% 33,967 2.9% 37,777 3.3% 40,306 3.6% 39.5% 6.7% Not Hispanic or Latino 1,164,935 98.0% 1,136,138 97.1% 1,095,365 96.7% 1,071,665 96.4% -2.5% -2.2%                       Households by Income                         In 2008 the predominant household income category in this study area is $50K - $75K, and the income group that is least represented in this geography is $150K +.     HH Income Categories                 Percent Change   1990 Census % 2000 Census % 2008 Estimate % 2013 Projection % 1990 to 2000 2008 to 2013 $0 - $15,000 123,491 26.7% 86,345 18.4% 60,897 13.3% 53,631 11.9% -30.1% -11.9% $15,000 - $24,999 82,534 17.9% 66,812 14.3% 55,976 12.2% 46,922 10.4% -19.1% -16.2% $25,000 - $34,999 74,828 16.2% 61,477 13.1% 51,471 11.3% 46,843 10.4% -17.8% -9.0% $35,000 - $49,999 85,185 18.4% 76,488 16.3% 67,204 14.7% 62,806 13.9% -10.2% -6.5% $50,000 - $74,999 64,673 14.0% 89,156 19.0% 87,225 19.1% 85,322 18.9% 37.9% -2.2% $75,000 - $99,999 18,765 4.1% 45,895 9.8% 55,528 12.2% 56,539 12.6% 144.6% 1.8% $100,000 - $149,999 8,085 1.8% 29,855 6.4% 52,012 11.4% 61,301 13.6% 269.3% 17.9% $150,000 + 4,164 0.9% 12,691 2.7% 26,727 5.8% 36,968 8.2% 204.8% 38.3%                       Average Hhld Income $34,288   $49,538   $58,055   $64,556   44.5% 11.2% Median Hhld Income $28,138   $38,604   $48,374   $53,801   37.2% 11.2% Per Capita Income $13,420   $19,844   $24,276   $27,118   47.9% 11.7%   View Larger Map Current year data is for the year 2008, 5 year projected data is for the year 2013. More About Our Data. Demographic data © 2008 by Experian/Applied Geographic Solutions. © 2008. Privacy Statement - License Agreement View Available Buldings View Available Sites Buffalo Niagara Falls Official Website Buffalo/Niagara MSA Demographic Report (PDF) Flickr Images of Buffalo Niagar aFalls Niagara Falls on Wikipedia ERIE CANAL from Larry Ransom on Vimeo.