County · South Dakota
Buffalo County, South Dakota
Buffalo County, South Dakota. Buffalo County had 1,802 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 7.3% since 2020, while South Dakota grew 5.5%. It holds 3 places (1 town or township and 2 census-designated) and 1 census tract. GEOID 46017.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,802
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,948 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,808 ±210
Median household income
$47,045
±$11,995 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $75,081
Median home value
$117,800
±$38,765 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $257,400
Median gross rent
$540
±$187 (90% margin)
South Dakota: $946
How many people live in Buffalo County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,948 residents in Buffalo County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,802 for July 1, 2025, down 7.3% since 2020, while South Dakota grew 5.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,808 over 471 square miles of land.
| Measure | Buffalo County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,808±210 | 907,428 | −218 |
| Households | 508±54 | 365,544 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.56±0.43 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 578±51 | 408,584 | −79 |
Buffalo County's population since 2000
From 2,032 in 2000 to 1,802 in 2025: down 11.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Buffalo County?
Buffalo County holds 3 places: 1 town or township (a county subdivision with its own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Fort Thompson with 1,147 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Fort Thompson | 1,224 | $47,159 |
|---|---|---|
| Elvira TownshipGEOID 4601719300 | 43 | not published |
| Gann ValleyGEOID 4623421 | 10 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Buffalo County?
The median resident of Buffalo County is 22.8 years old; 39.2% are under 18 and 9.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 78.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 17.5%.
| Measure | Buffalo County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 22.8±2.9 | 38.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 39.2%±4.4 pts | 24.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 9.2%±2.2 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.7%±1.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 17.5%±4.5 pts | 79.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 1.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 78.2%±5.2 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.7%±2.1 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±1.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.9%±0.9 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.5%±4.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6%±2.9 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 43.0%±7.3 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.1%±5.2 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 9.9%±4.0 pts | 31.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.0%±1.9 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Buffalo County earn?
Half of Buffalo County's 508 households earn less than $47,045 a year (±$11,995), against $75,081 in South Dakota. In 2015-2019 it was $42,838 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 33.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Buffalo County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $47,045±$11,995 | $75,081 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $57,605±$8,834 | $98,527 | – |
| Per capita income | $17,360±$2,770 | $40,550 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 33.9%±8.2 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 36.9%±11.6 pts | 14.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.6%±7.4 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 68.7%±8.0 pts | 89.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Buffalo County?
Owners occupy 52.6% of Buffalo County's occupied homes and renters 47.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $117,800 by its owner (±$38,765). The median renter pays $540 a month including utilities, and 28.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Buffalo County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $117,800±$38,765 | $257,400 | +$57,496 |
| Median gross rent | $540±$187 | $946 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 28.5%±13.8 pts | 30.4% | no clear change |
| Owner-occupied homes | 52.6%±8.5 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 578±51 | 408,584 | −79 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±8.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.1%±5.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.1%±7.5 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 21.8%±6.6 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9%±1.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.0%±4.3 pts | 15.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Buffalo County building?
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Buffalo County get to work?
82.2% of Buffalo County's workers drive alone and 12.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 13.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 10.8%.
| Measure | Buffalo County | South Dakota | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.7%±7.1 pts | 67.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.8%±5.6 pts | 2.9% | −11.5 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 82.2%±6.8 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 0.5%±0.8 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±4.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 3.3%±2.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.3%±6.4 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 13.4 min±2.7 | 17.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Buffalo County's census tracts?
Buffalo County is a single census tract.
| Tract 940246017940200 | 1,808±210 | $47,045 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Buffalo County compare with South Dakota's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 59th of 66 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 66th of 66 |
| Residents per square mile | 38th of 66 |
| Median household income | 62nd of 66 |
| Median home value | 56th of 66 |
| Median gross rent | 61st of 65 |
| Poverty rate | 6th of 65 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66th of 66 |
| Median age | 66th of 66 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Buffalo County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.