Real Estate Investing in Buffalo, New York (14214)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Erie County • Population: 21,162 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 14214 (Buffalo, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Buffalo, NY (14214)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $291,762
Avg Monthly Rent $1,496
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,524
% Renters 54.8%

Market Analysis: 14214 Buffalo

On balance, ZIP 14214 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $292K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 14214 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $292K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Looking more closely, 14214 offers a low basis, the region around Buffalo has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Who lives in 14214 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 14214 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Buffalo:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,496/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
24 days
Average time to sell
Fast
8.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 14214

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$77,963/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $212,260 $1,440 4.9% +9.9% $106,130
3BR $244,895 $1,760 5.2% +8.4% $81,632
4BR $330,091 $2,000 4.4% +7.2% $82,523
5BR $389,816 +7.3% $77,963

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$312K$264K$216K$168K$120K$72KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,656$1,543$1,430$1,317$1,204$1,091Apr 2022Jun 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 14214 Compare?

Metric 14214 Buffalo Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY New York
Home Value $291,762 $237,084 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.8% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,496 $1,433 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 14214? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

55% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 14214 (Buffalo, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $291,762
Monthly Rent $1,496
Price-to-Rent 16.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +10.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
9.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 14214

Population: 21,162

💰 Median Household Income
$56,524
This area
$56,524
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
54.8%
This area
54.8%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
48.3%
This area
48.3%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.7 years
This area
28.7 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 47.0%
Black/African American 33.3%
Asian 11.6%
Other/Mixed 8.1%
Hispanic/Latino 3.8%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.0%
This area
12.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.3%
This area
11.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 14214

A+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
10.2:1 Avg Class Size
$30,443 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

BURGARD HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

DR GEORGE BLACKMAN ECC

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

DR LYDIA T WRIGHT SCH OF EXCELLENCE

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
569 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent
👥
435 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MIDDLE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

RESEARCH LABORATORY HS-BIOINFORMATIC

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
181 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A Very Good

PS 42 OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING CENTER

📚 Grade UG Elementary
👥
63 Students
👨‍🏫
5.9:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
B+ Above Average

BUFFALO UNITED CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
524 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,952 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PRIMARY HALL PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 K – 03 Elementary Charter
👥
171 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$25,412 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 500 PARKHURST BLVD, BUFFALO
👥
460 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$30,801 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BEN FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 05 – 07 School
📍 540 PARKHURST BLVD, BUFFALO
👥
616 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$30,801 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BUFFALO ACADEMY FOR THE VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

📚 05 – 12 High School
📍 450 MASTEN AVE, BUFFALO
👥
575 Students
👨‍🏫
8.2:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

BUILD COMMUNITY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 340 FOUGERON ST, BUFFALO
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
A+ Excellent

COMMUNITY SCHOOL #53

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 329 ROEHRER AVE, BUFFALO
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$33,375 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 116 Off-Campus Students
C+
Canisius University
2,545 students · 1.1 mi
C+
SUNY Buffalo State University
6,470 students · 2.1 mi
C
Professional Culinary Academy
17 students · 2.2 mi
D
Villa Maria College
545 students · 2.9 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda
139 students · 3.0 mi
C
Daemen University
2,625 students · 3.2 mi
C
D'Youville University
2,544 students · 3.6 mi
C
Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo
1,840 students · 3.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Buffalo, NY?

For house hackers, Buffalo, NY is a challenging. The $1,496/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $292K property.

What is the tenant pool like in Buffalo, NY?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Buffalo, NY. The rental market absorbs $1,496/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Buffalo, NY?

Rental vacancy in Buffalo, NY is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

What is the typical rental rate in Buffalo, NY?

The typical rental in Buffalo, NY commands about $1,496/mo monthly. That rent profile reliable cash flow against the $292K purchase basis.

Are landlord laws favorable in Buffalo, NY?

Buffalo, NY operates under NY law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

You know 14214 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 14214 ranks in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

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