City profile · South Dakota · Census ACS 2023

Buffalo, SD

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.

282
Residents
$81,607
Median income
$112,500
Median home
$948
Median rent (state)

Buffalo - the verdict

Buffalo ranks in the 63rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

63rd
percentile, household income
14th
percentile, home value
10th
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, SD

282 people live in Buffalo, South Dakota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Buffalo brings in $81,607 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.6%. Home values in Buffalo run a median of $112,500, and the median resident age is 54.6 years. About 20.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 75.4% 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), down 100% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 43.3°F with 16.9 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in South Dakota run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts South Dakota at 88.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $948 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $200 across South Dakota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 1.5 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

282 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Dakota

Median Household Income

$81,607 /yr

Poverty 7.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.6 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Dakota average

How does Buffalo compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 63% higher than other cities
Home value 14% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% 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'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.

63rdIncome percentile

63rd 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+)

$112,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% 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, SD Buffalo, SD's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buffalo, 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, SD median $81,607/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, 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, SD. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 75.4%

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

Population
282
Median Income
$81,607
Median Home Value
$112,500
Median Age
54.6
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Labor force participation
75.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.4%

Climate

Avg Temperature
43.3°F
Annual Precipitation
16.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

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 →
345 residents350 residents355 residents360 residents 202020212022202320242025 350 residents 358 residents ▲ +2.3%
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 1
2020 1
2021 1
2022 1
2023 0
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.1%
Carpool
2.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
8.7%
Work from Home
6.5%

Based on 184 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 sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.6
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$948/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
1.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Dakota

Bruce
283 people
Bullhead
285 people
Crook
278 people
Pukwana
276 people
Florence
289 people
Pollock
274 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo's 282 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Waldo, AL
282 people
Grand Detour, IL
282 people
Danville, MD
282 people
Sagaponack, NY
282 people
Savannah, OH
282 people
Davy, WV
282 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo's $81,607 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Strasburg, CO
$81,607 median income
Central City, IA
$81,607 median income
Mountain Iron, MN
$81,607 median income
Courtdale, PA
$81,607 median income
Ashland, CA
$81,604 median income
Oak Grove, OR
$81,611 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buffalo, 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, SD - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% White 95.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.1% Two or more races 2.1% 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 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 (this city) 282 $81,607
Bruce 283 $52,500
Bullhead 285 $32,614
Crook 278 $143,426
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SD NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buffalo, SD?

What is the population of Buffalo, SD? +

Buffalo, SD has a population of 282 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Buffalo runs $81,607, 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 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, SD? +

The median home value in Buffalo is $112,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Buffalo? +

Climate normals put Buffalo's yearly average temperature at 43.3°F, 16.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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 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.