ZIP Code · NY

ZIP 14216

Part of Buffalo, NY

Pop. 22,849·Erie County·277th most expensive ZIP in New York

Median rent (all units)

$1,507/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.9%

Month-over-Month

+0.1%

vs US Median

-$425

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 14216 · $1,507

More affordable than 72% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,240

1 BR

$1,280

2 BR

$1,510

3 BR

$1,840

4 BR+

$2,100

Research median

$1,510/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

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 14216 usually run 0.7% below trend in December and 0.7% above it in April, about $21 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 14216 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of New York

Rent in ZIP 14216 changed +5.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 251 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.6%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 14216 is 46.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($69,629) is $1,741 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,510); a 3-bedroom is $1,840.

Rank in Buffalo

13th cheapest of 19 ZIP codes in Buffalo.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 14217, 2 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,335/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 14216. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,084/yr

At $1,507/mo median

Location

CityBuffalo

StateNY

CountyErie County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.9% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 14216 (Buffalo, NY) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 54% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

22,849

Median income

$69,629

Median age

35.5

Renters

54.4%

Age distribution

14.4%

34.7%

23.8%

16.4%

Under 1814.4%

18–3434.7%

35–5423.8%

55–6410.7%

65+16.4%

Gender

48.1%

51.9%

Male48.1%

Female51.9%

Race & ethnicity

72.4%

16.4%

White72.4%

Black16.4%

Hispanic5.4%

Asian1.3%

Other4.6%

Education (25+)

17.3%

24.1%

54%

No HS diploma4.6%

HS diploma17.3%

Some college24.1%

Bachelor's+54%

Housing tenure

45.6%

54.4%

Owner45.6%

Renter54.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 14216 in Buffalo, NY has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,125 → $1,507

up 34.0%

Income

$62,243 → $69,629

up 11.9%

Population

24,445 → 22,849

down 6.5%

Renter share

50.5% → 54.4%

+3.9 pts

Bachelor's+

53.3% → 54%

+0.7 pts

Median age

34 → 35.5

+1.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 14216 in Buffalo, NY has increased by $382 per month, settling near $1,507 after starting the period at $1,125. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 14216 in Buffalo, NY now reports about $69,629, up from $62,243 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 22.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 24,445 to 22,849 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.5% change. About 54.4% of households rent today, against 50.5% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 14216 in Buffalo, NY reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 14216

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 14216 covers Buffalo, NY. The median rent here is $1,507/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,280/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,510/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($69,629/yr), ZIP 14216 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 14216?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $60,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,507/mo in ZIP 14216. The local median household income is $69,629/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 14216?

Rent in ZIP 14216 has risen 5.9% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 14216?

Asking rents in ZIP 14216 are usually lowest in December, about 0.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in April, about 0.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $21 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 14216 compare to other ZIPs in New York?

ZIP 14216 is one of the more affordable among New York ZIP codes for rent, ranking #277 of 334 at $1,507/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 14216 changed +5.9%, against a typical +5.6% across the 251 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks.