City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Buffalo City, WI

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

916
Residents
$62,917
Median income
$165,900
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Buffalo City - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Buffalo City lands in the 40th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

40th
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
12th
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 City, WI

Wisconsin's Buffalo City is a small town, with 916 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Buffalo City brings in $62,917 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.5%. Typical homes in Buffalo City are valued around $165,900, and the median resident age is 57.1 years. 19.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 59.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 5 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity).

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: the state registers 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Wisconsin run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 35.4 minutes, with 82.6% driving alone and 4.1% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 14.5 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

916 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$62,917 /yr

Poverty 7.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Buffalo City compare to other US cities?

Buffalo City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 40% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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 City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Buffalo City near the bottom of Wisconsin's cities

Among the 761 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Buffalo City ranks #499 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Buffalo City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#466 of 753
38th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#499 of 761
0th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#428 of 754
43rd percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#270 of 761
64th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#425 of 761
43rd percentile in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

40thIncome percentile

40th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Buffalo City's home value compares nationally

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

$165,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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 City $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 City, WI Buffalo City, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buffalo City, WI-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 City, WI median $62,917/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 City, WI'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 City, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.0%

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

Population
916
Median Income
$62,917
Median Home Value
$165,900
Median Age
57.1
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Labor force participation
59.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.0%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,005 residents1,010 residents1,015 residents1,020 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,011 residents 1,009 residents ▼ -0.2%
Buffalo City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 2
2021 1
2022 1
2023 2
2024 5

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
35.4 minutes
Drive Alone
82.6%
Carpool
13.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.1%

Based on 459 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
14.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Brandon
914 people
Greenleaf
921 people
Whitelaw
922 people
Hingham
927 people
Benton
904 people
Dickeyville
904 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo City's 916 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Stephens, AR
916 people
Spaulding, IL
916 people
Laurel Hill, NC
916 people
Brantley, AL
915 people
Hugo, CO
915 people
Milstead, GA
917 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo City's $62,917 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Minto, AK
$62,917 median income
Smithville, AR
$62,917 median income
Thornton, AR
$62,917 median income
Kiowa, CO
$62,917 median income
Winter Park, CO
$62,917 median income
Greenacres, FL
$62,917 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buffalo City, WI 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 City, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 95.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.0% 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 City compares to nearby Wisconsin 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 City (this city) 916 $62,917
Brandon 914 $76,964
Greenleaf 921 $92,635
Whitelaw 922 $57,298
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buffalo City, WI?

What is the population of Buffalo City, WI? +

The population of Buffalo City, WI stands at 916 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Buffalo City, WI? +

In Buffalo City, the typical household earns $62,917 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Buffalo City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Buffalo City; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Buffalo City, WI? +

A typical home in Buffalo City is worth $165,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.