City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Buffalo, WV

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.

1,110
Residents
$55,313
Median income
$124,100
Median home
$1,054
Median rent (state)

Buffalo - the verdict

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

28th
percentile, household income
19th
percentile, home value
25th
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, WV

West Virginia's Buffalo is a small town, with 1,110 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Buffalo households earn a median of $55,313 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.1%. Home values in Buffalo run a median of $124,100, and the median resident age is 42.6 years. 14.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 46.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts West Virginia at 89.5 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,054 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts West Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $220 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 74.0 out of 100 (High).

Population

1,110 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$55,313 /yr

Poverty 15.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Buffalo compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 19% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% 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 West Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

West Virginia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Buffalo toward the top of West Virginia's cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Buffalo ranks #37 - the 86th 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
#134 of 330
59th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#37 of 390
86th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#125 of 337
63rd percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#143 of 389
63rd percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#196 of 390
49th percentile in West Virginia

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

28thIncome percentile

28th 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+)

$124,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 81% 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, WV Buffalo, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buffalo, WV-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, WV median $55,313/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, WV'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, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.6%

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

Population
1,110
Median Income
$55,313
Median Home Value
$124,100
Median Age
42.6
Poverty Rate
15.1%
Labor force participation
46.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.8%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,180 residents1,190 residents1,200 residents1,210 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,204 residents 1,185 residents ▼ -1.6%
Buffalo's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.5%
Carpool
3.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.0%
Work from Home
7.4%

Based on 433 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for West Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$220
estimated/month

Estimates reflect West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,054/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Gilbert Creek
1,119 people
Tornado
1,101 people
Washington
1,129 people
Enterprise
1,084 people
White Hall
1,141 people
Bethany
1,066 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo's 1,110 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Conehatta, MS
1,110 people
Hayesville, NC
1,110 people
East Earl, PA
1,110 people
Keystone, CO
1,111 people
Valmeyer, IL
1,109 people
Lansing, IA
1,111 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buffalo's $55,313 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Garden City, AL
$55,313 median income
Gunnison, CO
$55,313 median income
Ordway, CO
$55,313 median income
Mitchell, IL
$55,313 median income
Donnellson, IA
$55,313 median income
Carsonville, MI
$55,313 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buffalo, WV 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, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 98.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.9% 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 West Virginia 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) 1,110 $55,313
Gilbert Creek 1,119 N/A
Tornado 1,101 $81,875
Washington 1,129 $44,882
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buffalo, WV?

What is the population of Buffalo, WV? +

Buffalo, WV counts 1,110 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Buffalo runs $55,313, 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 West Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 89.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within West Virginia vary by metro area.

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

Buffalo's median home value sits at $124,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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