Who moves to Buffalo, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Erie County, NY, home of Buffalo, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 18,721from other US counties
- Moved out
- 22,017to other US counties
- Net
- −3,296more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 257tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Niagara County, NY | 2,829 |
| Queens County, NY (New York) | 990 |
| Monroe County, NY (Rochester) | 789 |
| Kings County, NY | 597 |
| Cattaraugus County, NY | 527 |
| Bronx County, NY | 515 |
| Chautauqua County, NY | 502 |
| Wyoming County, NY | 285 |
| Onondaga County, NY (Syracuse) | 284 |
| Genesee County, NY | 244 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 187 |
| Suffolk County, NY | 176 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Niagara County, NY | 3,468 |
| Monroe County, NY (Rochester) | 750 |
| Cattaraugus County, NY | 586 |
| Chautauqua County, NY | 585 |
| Genesee County, NY | 418 |
| Wyoming County, NY | 358 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 337 |
| Queens County, NY (New York) | 313 |
| Kings County, NY | 300 |
| New York County, NY | 262 |
| Hillsborough County, FL (Tampa) | 232 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 219 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 9,675 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in New York and 9,046 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Queens County, NY (New York) | 990 |
| Kings County, NY | 597 |
| Bronx County, NY | 515 |
| Onondaga County, NY (Syracuse) | 284 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 187 |
| Suffolk County, NY | 176 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 171 |
| New York County, NY | 165 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 337 |
| Queens County, NY (New York) | 313 |
| Kings County, NY | 300 |
| New York County, NY | 262 |
| Hillsborough County, FL (Tampa) | 232 |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | 219 |
| Onondaga County, NY (Syracuse) | 210 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 194 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Buffalo come from?
Most people moving into Erie County, NY come from nearby counties, led by Niagara County, NY (2,829 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Queens County, NY.
Where do people leaving Buffalo move to?
The top destination is Niagara County, NY (3,468 people). Farther away, the most popular is Mecklenburg County, NC.
Are more people moving to Buffalo or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 18,721 people moved into Erie County, NY from elsewhere in the US and 22,017 moved out, a net loss of 3,296 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Buffalo with any city it trades people with, like Buffalo vs New York, Buffalo vs Syracuse, Buffalo vs Los Angeles, Buffalo vs Phoenix.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Buffalo.