how big is buffalo ny

Buffalo, New York, is approximately 52 to 53 square miles (about 136 to 137 square kilometers) in area. The population of Buffalo city was around 278,349 in 2020, with recent estimates around 272,762 in 2025. The Buffalo metropolitan area, which includes nearby cities and towns, has over 1.16 million residents. Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York State by population and is located at the eastern end of Lake Erie where it narrows into the Niagara River.