City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Buffalo Gap, SD

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

140
Residents
$55,268
Median income
$67,500
Median home
$1,173
Median rent (state)

Buffalo Gap - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Buffalo Gap lands in the 28th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

28th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
34th
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 Gap, SD

140 people live in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $55,268 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.8%. Buffalo Gap's housing stock carries a median value of $67,500, and the median resident age is 64.0 years. 20.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 54.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in South Dakota run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, South Dakota scores 88.6 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,173 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Dakota's average monthly utility costs around $200 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 16.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

140 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$55,268 /yr

Poverty 8.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Buffalo Gap compare to other US cities?

Here's how Buffalo Gap stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Buffalo Gap's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in South Dakota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

28thIncome percentile

28th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Buffalo Gap's home value compares nationally

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

$67,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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 Gap $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 Gap, SD Buffalo Gap, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buffalo Gap, SD-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 Gap, SD median $55,268/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 Gap, SD'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 Gap, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.2%

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

Population
140
Median Income
$55,268
Median Home Value
$67,500
Median Age
64.0
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Labor force participation
54.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.0%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
120 residents130 residents140 residents150 residents160 residents 202020212022202320242025 128 residents 155 residents ▲ +21.1%
Buffalo Gap's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.7%
Carpool
4.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
15.6%

Based on 64 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Dakota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$200
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Dakota 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 South Dakota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Buffalo Gap sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,173/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
16.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Canova
140 people
Geddes
141 people
Frankfort
142 people
Fairfax
143 people
Rowena
137 people
Mellette
144 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo Gap's 140 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Antares, AZ
140 people
Pyatt, AR
140 people
Reed, AR
140 people
Gough, GA
140 people
Nilwood, IL
140 people
Solon Mills, IL
140 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo Gap's $55,268 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ingalls Park, IL
$55,268 median income
Sylvan Beach, NY
$55,268 median income
Wilmington, DE
$55,269 median income
Fort Bliss, TX
$55,267 median income
Ponca City, OK
$55,270 median income
California City, CA
$55,271 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buffalo Gap, SD 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 Gap, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.9% 10.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 87.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 10.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.4% 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 Gap compares to nearby South Dakota 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 Gap (this city) 140 $55,268
Canova 140 $58,000
Geddes 141 $61,250
Frankfort 142 $61,875
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buffalo Gap, SD?

What is the population of Buffalo Gap, SD? +

140 people live in Buffalo Gap, SD according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Buffalo Gap, SD? +

Median annual household income in Buffalo Gap runs $55,268, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Buffalo Gap? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Buffalo Gap; the closest available measure is the South Dakota state average, a cost of living index of 88.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Dakota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Buffalo Gap, SD? +

Buffalo Gap's median home value sits at $67,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.