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Living in
West Seneca.
West Seneca is an unincorporated community in Erie County, NY. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in West Seneca
If you're considering West Seneca, you're looking at a straightforward suburban choice with reasonable access to Buffalo's job market and amenities without living in the city itself. The median home price around $233,000 and median household income of $79,709 suggest a stable, working-to-middle-class community where housing costs won't drain your budget, though rent averaging $1,106 monthly is moderate rather than cheap. Your commute to Buffalo jobs typically runs about 23 minutes, and the town's extensive highway network—including Interstate 90 and multiple state routes—makes getting around the county fairly straightforward.
West Seneca at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
2.6%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.6% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in West Seneca: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Seneca, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (13.2%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.7%
of residents
65 and Older
20.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.3%
of households
Married Couples
44.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 32% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in West Seneca
In West Seneca, rent runs 32% below the NY average, and home values are 45% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,199
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.3%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in West Seneca and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Erie County, which includes West Seneca, is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
West Seneca: Erie County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Erie County (county-wide) · Annual averages
West Seneca is about 5% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What West Seneca Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY metro area
Commute23 min avg
How West Seneca residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Seneca, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 66% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Seneca runs 66% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
112.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,785.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Seneca Town Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Erie County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Erie County, which includes West Seneca, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Lake-Effect Snow | $6,500 |
| 2024 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $46,300 |
| 2022 | 19 | Winter Storm | $45.7M |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.4M |
| 2020 | 42 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2019 | 29 | High Wind | $21.7M |
| 2018 | 22 | Winter Storm | $604,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Erie County, county-wide
West Seneca is about 5% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Erie County, which includes West Seneca, is typically good — 233 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
233
per year
Moderate Days
121
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Erie County, county-wide
West Seneca is about 5% of Erie County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Seneca has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.5"
Annual Snowfall
95.4"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
166
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 3.35" |
| Feb | 33°F | 20°F | 2.49" |
| Mar | 42°F | 26°F | 2.89" |
| Apr | 55°F | 37°F | 3.37" |
| May | 67°F | 48°F | 3.37" |
| Jun | 76°F | 58°F | 3.37" |
| Jul | 80°F | 63°F | 3.23" |
| Aug | 79°F | 62°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 72°F | 55°F | 4.10" |
| Oct | 60°F | 44°F | 4.03" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 3.50" |
| Dec | 37°F | 26°F | 3.75" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Seneca
West Seneca has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
Western Ny Childrens Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Buffalo
Kaleida Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Buffalo
Erie County Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Buffalo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education9.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Seneca
West Seneca's student/teacher ratio is 9.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 34.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Seneca (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 6,099 students · in-state tuition $6,100 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,497 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,097 students · in-state tuition $8,533 · 47% graduate · median earnings $55,028 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,685 students · in-state tuition $35,880 · 68% graduate · median earnings $63,820 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,258 students · in-state tuition $35,980 · 70% graduate · median earnings $74,104 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 984 students · in-state tuition $21,480 · 60% graduate · median earnings $62,554 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo
6.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 743 students · in-state tuition $19,220 · 40% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Seneca
West Seneca has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayWomen's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Seneca
West Seneca Public Library
1300 Union Road, West Seneca
Cities Near West Seneca
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Seneca?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Seneca FAQ
Is West Seneca, New York affordable?⌄
West Seneca's median rent is $1,106/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $79,709/year. Median home value is $232,800.
Is West Seneca, New York safe?⌄
West Seneca's violent crime rate was 112 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1786 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Seneca, New York?⌄
Erie County, which includes West Seneca, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Seneca, New York?⌄
The cost of living in West Seneca is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,106/month and median household income is $79,709/year. The median home value is $232,800. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Seneca, New York?⌄
The average commute in West Seneca is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from