City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Buffalo, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Buffalo - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

405
Residents
$67,321
Median income
$122,400
Median home
$1,203
Median rent (state)

Buffalo - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Buffalo places in the 46th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

46th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
36th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Buffalo, IL

405 people live in Buffalo, Illinois - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Buffalo brings in $67,321 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.8%. Buffalo's housing stock carries a median value of $122,400, and the median resident age is 48.6 years. 30.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,203 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Buffalo report an average commute of 21.7 minutes, with 70.5% driving alone and 15.3% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 91.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

405 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$67,321 /yr

Poverty 10.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Buffalo compare to other US cities?

Where Buffalo sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 46% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 36% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Buffalo against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Buffalo toward the top of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Buffalo ranks #302 - the 77th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Buffalo only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#659 of 1,311
50th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#469 of 1,336
63rd percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#635 of 1,315
52nd percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#421 of 1,335
68th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#302 of 1,336
77th percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

46thIncome percentile

46th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Buffalo's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$122,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Buffalo $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Buffalo, IL Buffalo, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buffalo, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Buffalo, IL median $67,321/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Buffalo, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Buffalo, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
405
Median Income
$67,321
Median Home Value
$122,400
Median Age
48.6
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Labor force participation
52.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.2%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
435 residents440 residents445 residents450 residents 202020212022202320242025 446 residents 437 residents ▼ -2.0%
Buffalo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.7 minutes
Drive Alone
70.5%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.4%
Work from Home
15.3%
Other
4.5%

Based on 176 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Buffalo sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,203/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Herrick
405 people
Irving
407 people
Loraine
407 people
Saunemin
407 people
Lostant
402 people
Bellflower
410 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo's 405 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

North Courtland, AL
405 people
Tununak, AK
405 people
Rock Point, AZ
405 people
Calion, AR
405 people
Franktown, CO
405 people
Redvale, CO
405 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo's $67,321 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fort Green, FL
$67,321 median income
Elba, NY
$67,321 median income
Starrucca, PA
$67,321 median income
Burns, TN
$67,321 median income
Key Vista, FL
$67,316 median income
Walled Lake, MI
$67,335 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buffalo, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Buffalo, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.7% 11.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.5% White 87.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 11.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Buffalo compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Buffalo (this city) 405 $67,321
Herrick 405 $58,750
Irving 407 $46,250
Loraine 407 $56,855
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buffalo, IL?

What is the population of Buffalo, IL? +

The population of Buffalo, IL stands at 405 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Buffalo, IL? +

Median annual household income in Buffalo runs $67,321, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Buffalo? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Buffalo; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Buffalo, IL? +

The median home value in Buffalo is $122,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.