Population 45,263 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Seneca
Household size in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.41 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.39 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.28 | 2.33 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.33 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.08 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in West Seneca are small: just 2.27 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.39, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.2 | 40.4 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.5 | 41.2 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.6 | 41.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 42.0 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.3 | +1.6 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
West Seneca skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 11.7% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 12.1% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 11.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 11.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in West Seneca than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in West Seneca
Renters in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 32.9% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.8% | 33.8% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 34.3% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.2% | 33.2% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +0.3 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.2% of households in West Seneca rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 41.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 10.6% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 10.3% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 10.0% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 8.4% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −2.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in West Seneca: 6.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1958 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1960 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +5 | +6 |
West Seneca is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Even so, homes here are newer than in the wider Buffalo area, where the median home dates to 1960. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $719 | $728 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $779 | $783 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $892 | $873 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,074 | $1,126 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$354 | +$398 | +$698 | +$606 |
Rent in West Seneca runs $1,074 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $354 a month from 2006–10, a 49% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in West Seneca
Bachelor's degrees in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 27.6% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.3% | 29.6% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.4% | 32.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.4% | 35.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.0 pts | +8.0 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in West Seneca as nationally: 34.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 11.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.9% | 88.2% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.4% | 89.8% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 91.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.5% | 91.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in West Seneca: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in West Seneca
| Period | West Seneca | Buffalo area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 8.0% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 5.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Seneca is close to the national rate: 4.7% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Buffalo area as a whole (5.4%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
West Seneca compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Seneca | 2.27 | 44.5 | 8.8% | 23.2% | 6.6% | 1966 | $1,074 | 34.4% | 94.5% | 4.7% |
| Lackawanna | 2.49 | 35.7 | 24.0% | 43.7% | 10.3% | 1954 | $835 | 18.5% | 86.0% | 10.2% |
| Sloan | 2.49 | 39.9 | 16.8% | 32.1% | 16.6% | 1947 | $1,172 | 18.0% | 90.5% | 1.9% |
| Blasdell | 2.09 | 44.0 | 12.7% | 38.8% | 8.0% | 1943 | $716 | 24.0% | 92.7% | 10.1% |
| Orchard Park | 2.35 | 48.0 | 5.8% | 26.6% | 4.4% | 1976 | $1,371 | 52.4% | 97.6% | 4.2% |
| Cheektowaga | 2.20 | 41.6 | 9.8% | 29.1% | 6.0% | 1960 | $1,017 | 30.4% | 92.8% | 3.7% |
| DePew | 2.28 | 43.5 | 7.2% | 26.6% | 5.5% | 1968 | $1,090 | 30.6% | 93.1% | 3.1% |
| Elma | 2.57 | 44.3 | 7.3% | 12.2% | 4.8% | 1972 | $1,168 | 44.2% | 97.6% | 5.0% |
| Lancaster | 2.37 | 46.4 | 7.4% | 18.2% | 5.4% | 1980 | $1,215 | 42.4% | 95.4% | 2.4% |
| Buffalo area | 2.33 | 42.0 | 11.5% | 33.2% | 8.4% | 1960 | $1,126 | 35.6% | 91.9% | 5.4% |
| Hamburg | 2.24 | 47.2 | 8.3% | 22.8% | 4.6% | 1972 | $1,184 | 39.7% | 95.0% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Brunswick, GA · Del Rio, TX · Cutler Bay, FL · Arlington, MA · Columbus, MS · Valley Village, CA · Casselberry, FL · Cape Girardeau, MO · Butler, PA · Brunswick, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up West Seneca. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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