Community Overview

Exploring Our Community

Buffalo, NY: The City of Good Neighbors Awaits

As your plane descends into Buffalo Niagara International Airport, the landscape below hints at what makes this city special. You’ll see a vibrant patchwork of historic neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, and the shimmering expanse of Lake Erie’s waterfront stretching to the horizon. Anchoring Western New York, Buffalo offers the charm of a mid-sized city with the amenities of a major metropolitan area—all within reach of your daily life.

Located in the heart of the Great Lakes region, Buffalo blends four distinct seasons with an abundance of natural beauty. Fall paints the trees in fiery reds and golds, summers bring breezy days ideal for waterfront dining and lake kayaking, and winter transforms the city into a wonderland for snow sports and cozy gatherings. With an average of 155 sunny days a year and moderate seasonal variation, you’ll enjoy a climate that encourages an active lifestyle year-round.

Buffalo has increasingly found itself in the national spotlight. U.S. News & World Report recently named it one of the top emerging housing markets and one of the most affordable places to live in the U.S. Known for its authenticity, pride, and community spirit, Buffalo is a city where newcomers are warmly welcomed, and neighbors still lend sugar—or snowblowers.

Natural landmarks abound. Niagara Falls, just 20 minutes north, offers year-round adventure, while Letchworth State Park—often called the “Grand Canyon of the East”—is a scenic drive away. The Adirondacks and Finger Lakes are accessible for weekend escapes, and Canada’s wine country is just across the Peace Bridge.

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Erie in Western New York
Known as the “City of Good Neighbors” for its warmth and hospitality
Niagara Falls is just 20 minutes away; Finger Lakes and Adirondacks nearby
Four-season climate with vibrant autumns and snowy, scenic winters
Nationally recognized for affordability, revitalization, and quality of life
Local economy supported by healthcare, education, tech, and manufacturing
Major employers include M&T Bank, Kaleida Health, and Roswell Park
Buffalo Niagara International Airport offers direct flights to 30+ U.S. cities
Waterfront developments, hiking trails, and local parks integrated into city life

In Buffalo, you’ll find a place that feels both established and evolving—a community large enough to offer diversity and opportunity, yet small enough for your presence to matter. It’s a city that invites you to put down roots, grow your career, and enjoy a life that’s as full outside the hospital as it is within.

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History Unveiled: A Journey Through Time

From Industrial Powerhouse to Modern Renaissance

Buffalo’s story begins at the water’s edge—where Lake Erie flows into the Niagara River. Its location made it a strategic hub in the early 1800s, and the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 cemented Buffalo’s place as a gateway between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. This pivotal role turned Buffalo into a booming industrial city and a magnet for immigrants seeking opportunity.

By the early 20th century, Buffalo was one of America’s wealthiest cities, powered by steel, grain, and innovation. It was among the first in the world to electrify its streets using nearby Niagara Falls. Architectural icons such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House and Louis Sullivan’s Guaranty Building still stand as proud reminders of the city’s grandeur during this “City of Light” era.

As manufacturing declined in the mid-20th century, Buffalo faced economic challenges—but never lost its resilience. Instead, it reinvented itself. A new generation of Buffalonians turned historic warehouses into lofts, breweries, and art spaces. The waterfront was revitalized, medical corridors expanded, and investment returned to the downtown core. The city’s evolution has become a national case study in grit-fueled renewal.

Founded in the early 1800s; rapidly grew due to the Erie Canal
Industrial epicenter in the 1900s—steel, shipping, and grain trade flourished
One of the first U.S. cities to harness hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls
Hosted the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, spotlighting American innovation
Home to architectural landmarks by Wright, Richardson, and Sullivan
Cultural resurgence fueled by arts, medicine, and urban revitalization
Historic neighborhoods restored with care, preserving Buffalo’s authenticity
Past challenges have fostered a tight-knit, community-driven identity

Today, Buffalo honors its past while boldly building its future. As a physician here, you’ll walk in a city shaped by perseverance, where the legacy of innovation continues—and where your own contributions will become part of the next great chapter.

Population & Demographics: Understanding Our Diverse Community

A Welcoming and Diverse Community of One Million+

Buffalo’s metropolitan area is home to over one million people, making it the second-largest population center in New York State. Despite its size, the community maintains a welcoming, small-town feel—one that consistently earns it the title of “The City of Good Neighbors.” Whether you’re new to the region or returning to your roots, you’ll find that Buffalo embraces diversity, values connection, and supports inclusion in both personal and professional spheres.

The city itself has a population of around 275,000, with surrounding suburbs offering everything from historic neighborhoods to modern planned communities. Buffalo’s demographic landscape is richly diverse: more than 40% of city residents identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial. In recent years, the area has become a hub for immigrant and refugee resettlement, with vibrant cultural enclaves of Burmese, Sudanese, Yemeni, and Somali families adding to the city’s rich mosaic.

Education and healthcare anchor the local workforce, with professionals comprising a substantial portion of the population. The presence of multiple medical campuses, research centers, and universities creates an intellectually engaging atmosphere where your role as a physician is respected and understood.

Metro population: ~1.1 million
City population: ~275,000
Diverse demographics with significant multicultural representation
Thriving communities of immigrants and refugees from around the world
Active LGBTQ+ community with inclusive events and organizations
Strong educational attainment and professional workforce
Median age: ~34.5, offering energy and balance across life stages
Engaged citizenry with pride in civic and neighborhood identity

Whether you’re raising a family, looking to connect with like-minded professionals, or simply want to live among people who care about their city and one another, Buffalo offers a population as dynamic and genuine as the city itself.