These Are The 5 Richest Neighborhoods In Buffalo, New York

There is a ton of data that the US Government collects every year. As we look deeper into all of the information organized as a part of the 2020 US Census, we learn more about how Buffalo's economy has been doing over time, in addition to how those changes impact our area compared to the larger economy.

The entire Buffalo area has seen its financial health improve quite a bit over the last few decades; however, even with those improvements, Buffalo still ranks as one of the poorest cities in the entire United States of America.

Not only does Buffalo remain one of the poorest cities in America overall, but it also continues to be one of the most economically segregated places in the country. Poverty in the Buffalo area is not evenly distributed throughout our region. There are some impoverished and needy areas and some highly wealthy areas. Buffalo and Western New York is really the tale of two cities.

You will find some shocking details if you deeply dive into New York's Census data.

So What Neighborhoods Are The Richest In Buffalo?

The US Census Bureau breaks down every area in the country into what's called Census Tracts or small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county that generally have a population size between 1,200 and 8,000 people, with an optimum size of 4,000 people. Census tracts are tracked and identified by an 11-digit number that is assigned to each neighborhood or area.

Most of the low-income Census Tracts in Erie County are within the City of Buffalo, which includes the poorest neighborhoods around, while a vast majority of the upper-income Census Tracts are outside of the City.

According to the Census, the annual median income within the entire Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY (MSA) is approximately $78,000. In contrast, the income in the five poorest neighborhoods in Buffalo averages well above $150,000 per year.

South East Lancaster

Census Tract 360290142.06 encompasses most of the southern section of East Lancaster and comes in 5th on the list of wealthiest areas in Buffalo. Less than 3 percent of its residents live below the Federal Poverty Level, with the neighborhood median annual income coming in at $137,807 per year.

North Getzville

Census Tract 360290090.09 comprises a large part of the northern section of Getzville, where the 990 hits Millersport Highway and, as the 4th richest area in Buffalo, boasts a median family income of $140,395.

North East Amherst, Near the Border with Clarence Center

Census Tract 360290146.04 is the area that is roughly bounded by Roll Road, Transit Road, Lapp Road, and Heise Road in East Amherst and ranks as the 3rd wealthiest neighborhood in the area, with less than 2% of its residents living below the Federal Poverty Level and a median annual income of $164,727.

Hamlet of Ellicott inside The Town of Orchard Park

Census Tract 36029135.02 comprises all of the Hamlet of Ellicott, which is part of the Town of Orchard Park and boasts the 2nd highest median family income in all of Erie County at $167.181, along with an even lower percentage of the population who lives below the Federal Poverty Level (which is approx. 1.31%).

Woodstream Farms Neighborhood in East Amherst

Census Tract 360290090.07 is located in the central part of East Amherst, bounded by Klein Rd, Hopkins, Casey Rd, and Transit Road. This area has the highest median family income for all of Erie County, at $168,057 per year, and has an extremely low percentage of people who live below the Federal Poverty Level (estimated at 3.82 % of the population).