The Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan statistical area is a metropolitan area, designated by the United States Census Bureau, encompassing two counties - Erie and Niagara - in the state of New York. It is the second-largest metropolitan area in the state. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had a population of 1,166,902. The larger Buffalo Niagara Region is an economic zone consisting of eight counties in Western New York. The bi-national region including the St. Catharines, Niagara, Canada statistical area and the Buffalo metro area, has a combined population of 1,659,323 as of 2025.The Buffalo-Niagara Metro and Greater Toronto Area together form one of the top 10 most populated urban regions in all of North America.
Counties Erie Niagara Cattaraugus (part of CSA)
Communities
Cities
Buffalo Lackawanna Lockport Niagara Falls North Tonawanda Olean (part of CSA) Salamanca (part of CSA) Tonawanda
Towns
Alden Albion Amherst Aurora Barre Boston Brant Cambria Carlton Cheektowaga Claredon Clarence Colden Collins Concord Eden Elma Evans Gaines Grand Island Hamburg Hartland Holland Kendall Lancaster Lewiston Lockport Marilla Murray Newfane Newstead Niagara North Collins Orchard Park Pendleton Porter Royalton Ridgeway Sardinia Somerset Shelby Tonawanda Wales West Seneca Wheatfield Wilson Yates
Villages
Akron Albion Alden Angola Barker Blasdell Depew East Aurora Farnham Gowanda (partial) Hamburg Holley Kendall Kenmore Lancaster Lewiston Lyndonville Medina Middleport North Collins Orchard Park Sloan Springville Williamsville Wilson Youngstown
Census-designated places
Angola on the Lake Billington Heights Cheektowaga Clarence Center East Amherst Eden Elma Center Gasport Harris Hill Holland Lake Erie Beach Newfane North Boston Olcott Ransomville Rapids South Lockport Tonawanda Town Line West Seneca
Indian Reservations Cattaraugus Reservation (partial) Tonawanda Reservation (Erie County) Tonawanda Reservation (Niagara County) Tuscarora Reservation (Niagara County)
Demographics
As of the 2020 Census there were 1,166,902 people residing in the MSA. It was 74.5% White, 13.0% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian or Alaska Native, 4.2% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.1% Other and 5.5% two or more Races. 5.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. CountySeat2025 estimate2020 CensusChangeLand AreaDensityErieBuffaloNiagaraLockportTotal
Transportation
Amtrak stations Station Code City County Lines served Buffalo–Depew BUF Depew Erie Empire Service, Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf Buffalo – Exchange Street BFX Buffalo Erie Empire Service, Maple Leaf Niagara Falls NFL Niagara Falls Niagara Empire Service, Maple Leaf
Major airports Airport IATA code ICAO code County Buffalo Niagara International Airport BUF KBUF Erie Niagara Falls International Airport IAG KIAG Niagara
Major highways
Interstate 90 Interstate 190 Interstate 290 Interstate 990 U.S. Route 20 U.S. Route 20A U.S. Route 62 U.S. Route 219 New York State Route 5 New York State Route 18 New York State Route 33 New York State Route 104 New York State Route 198 New York State Route 400
Combined Statistical Area The Buffalo–Cheektowaga–Olean combined statistical area (CSA), which includes the Buffalo–Niagara Falls MSA and adds Cattaraugus County, had a population of 1,215,826 inhabitants. It is part of the Great Lakes Megalopolis, which contains an estimated 54 million people.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) Buffalo–Cheektowaga (Erie and Niagara counties) Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs) Olean (Cattaraugus County)
Statistical Area2025 estimate2020 CensusChangeLand AreaDensityBuffalo–Cheektowaga, NY Metropolitan Statistical AreaOlean, NY Micropolitan Statistical AreaTotal
See also New York census statistical areas Buffalo Niagara Region Great Lakes region
References