ZIP Code · NY

ZIP 14209

Part of Buffalo, NY

Pop. 8,313·Erie County·275th most expensive ZIP in New York

Median rent (all units)

$1,544/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.2%

vs US Median

-$388

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 14209 · $1,544

More affordable than 70% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,100

1 BR

$1,140

2 BR

$1,340

3 BR

$1,640

4 BR+

$1,870

Research median

$1,340/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 14209 is 1.7% below its high of $1,571 in March 2026, at $1,544 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of New York

Rent in ZIP 14209 changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 251 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.6%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($50,046) is $1,251 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,140); a 2-bedroom is $1,340.

Rank in Buffalo

14th cheapest of 19 ZIP codes in Buffalo.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 14201, 2 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,315/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 14209. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,528/yr

At $1,544/mo median

Location

CityBuffalo

StateNY

CountyErie County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.8% YoY, +0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 14209 (Buffalo, NY) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 47.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

8,313

Median income

$50,046

Median age

41.3

Renters

66.3%

Age distribution

37.5%

18.5%

26.5%

Under 188.7%

18–3437.5%

35–5418.5%

55–648.7%

65+26.5%

Gender

47.1%

52.9%

Male47.1%

Female52.9%

Race & ethnicity

53.4%

31.8%

White53.4%

Black31.8%

Hispanic7.4%

Asian4.6%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

14.1%

30.1%

47.3%

No HS diploma8.5%

HS diploma14.1%

Some college30.1%

Bachelor's+47.3%

Housing tenure

33.7%

66.3%

Owner33.7%

Renter66.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 14209 in Buffalo, NY has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,305 → $1,544

up 18.3%

Income

$43,891 → $50,046

up 14.0%

Population

9,009 → 8,313

down 7.7%

Renter share

71.2% → 66.3%

-4.9 pts

Bachelor's+

41.2% → 47.3%

+6.1 pts

Median age

32.8 → 41.3

+8.5 yrs

Since 2023, the typical rent in ZIP 14209 in Buffalo, NY has climbed from $1,305 to $1,544, a 18.3% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $50,046 today, compared with $43,891 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 7.7% since 2021, moving from about 9,009 residents to roughly 8,313. Renters now make up 66.3% of households, compared with 71.2% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 47.3% of adults here, versus 41.2% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 14209

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 14209 covers Buffalo, NY. The median rent here is $1,544/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,140/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,340/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($50,046/yr), ZIP 14209 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 14209?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,544/mo in ZIP 14209. The local median household income is $50,046/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 14209?

Rent in ZIP 14209 has risen 3.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.7% below its high of $1,571 in March 2026.

How does ZIP 14209 compare to other ZIPs in New York?

ZIP 14209 is one of the more affordable among New York ZIP codes for rent, ranking #275 of 334 at $1,544/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 14209 changed +3.8%, against a typical +5.6% across the 251 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks.