Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Buffalo is healthier than 51%
Buffalo differs from New York on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buffalo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buffalo
Buffalo is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Buffalo is healthier than 22%. Against the 5,810 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 51%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Buffalo
1 in 6 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (15.8%), about twice the New York rate. Food insecurity (27.5% vs 17.2%) and no reliable transportation (14.6% vs 8.6%) are higher too. 28.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Buffalo
53.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.5% across New York. Among those 65 and older, 21.4% have lost all their teeth (New York 12.8%). Checkups ↓
COPD, obesity and asthma run high in Buffalo
1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 6% across New York. 2 in 5 adults have obesity (38.4%), vs 28.8% across New York. Asthma is also above the state: 12.7%, vs 10.3% across New York. In all, Buffalo runs above New York on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Buffalo has five hospitals within its borders
5 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Buffalo. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the New York figure falls outside Buffalo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Buffalo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buffalo is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns, #718 of 755 in New York. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 36% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 15%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Buffalo’s median household income is $50,041; among the 5,810 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 51%, about where its income would put it.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Buffalo is healthier than 5% of graded towns, against 22% nationally.
Where Buffalo compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 34.1% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.8% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 274,613 residents, Buffalo is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
28.5% of Buffalo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Out of every 100 Buffalo adults…
Buffalo runs below NY on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Buffalo
5 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Buffalo.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Buffalo; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
49 miles of trails across 114 parks and preserves
How Buffalo adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Buffalo runs above New York.
1 in 3 Buffalo adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Buffalo and the towns around it
Buffalo’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | C− | 38.4% | 13.4% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Cheektowaga | B | 33.4% | 11.1% | 13.5% | ZIP codes |
| Amherst | A | 27.7% | 8.9% | 8.8% | ZIP codes |
| West Seneca | — | — | — | — | |
| West Seneca | A− | 31% | 9.9% | 11.7% | ZIP codes |
| Eggertsville | — | — | — | — | |
| Cheektowaga | — | — | — | — | |
| Lackawanna | C− | 37.7% | 13.2% | 18.4% | CDC place |
West Seneca, Eggertsville and Cheektowaga: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buffalo adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Buffalo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buffalo is better than New York on 2 and worse on 20; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Buffalo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Buffalo | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.1%21.7–26.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.5–16.6 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17.1–20.9 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.4%34–42.7 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.9–15 | 11.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%31.8–37.5 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.1%31.1–37 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.3%23–27.6 | 24% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.3–14.1 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.2–6.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.8–7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8%7.2–8.7 | 6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.4%18.4–24.5 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%14.6–18.4 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.1%28.7–35.4 | 25.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.9–18.8 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.5%39.7–47.4 | 37.9% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.4%8.3–10.7 | 7.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%79.1–84.2 | 80.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.1%50.1–55.8 | 63.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.4–86.7 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.3%73.8–78.6 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.5%59.7–67.1 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%73.6–83.2 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.7%18.1–23.3 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%30.6–38.5 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.2%24.9–31.5 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.5%24.9–30.2 | 17.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.4%20.1–24.7 | 14.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.8%14.1–17.5 | 8.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.6%13.2–16.1 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 28.5%26.1–30.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26.6–32.7 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.9%14.2–17.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%14.1–17.2 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.7%7.1–8.3 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%10.2–12.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the New York figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Buffalo
Is Buffalo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buffalo is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #718 of 755 in New York. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Buffalo?
CDC estimates 38.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 34% and 42.7%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Buffalo?
Kaleida Health in Buffalo, 2.6 miles in a straight line from Buffalo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Buffalo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.3–10.7%), against 7.9% across New York.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Buffalo more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buffalo.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.