CensusEasy
CITY

Buffalo

Iowa · 1,146 residents (2025 est.) · 6.771 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Davenport metro area
Compare
The short version

Buffalo has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,728. Population has fallen 17% since 2000, a loss of 224 residents. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $122,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 10%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,097
−17%since 2000
from 1,321 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
162 / sq mi
−17%since 2000
from 195 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.0
+20%since 2000
from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,146 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9331K1K1K1K1990201020202024Buffalo
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,728
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,250 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,958
+55%since 2000
from $21,957 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.2%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.8%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.374
+9%since 2010
from 0.344 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade19.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade15.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing3.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services1.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$122,100
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$804
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $471 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.6% in 2000
23.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.9%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
17.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
+4%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
28
RELATED:See current rent listings in Buffalo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(1,232)
Black1.2%(16)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(51)
Asian0.2%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score12.7%(168)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.6%(950)
Black0.7%(8)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(69)
Asian0%(0)
Other6.4%(70)
Diversity Score30.2%(332)
Diversity Score
30
+138%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.6%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.7%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 79.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.1 min
+103%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.9%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 91.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.5%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.0%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.1%
−9.8 ptssince 2011
from 11.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2011
from 64.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.4%
−21.6 ptssince 2009
from 55.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 56.1% in 2009
Female
47.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 43.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.8%
−42.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.3%
+6.5 ptssince 2012
from 16.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.8%
−88.3 ptssince 2013
from 91.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+22.3 ptssince 2017
from 67.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Buffalo

Center Hill
Pop 1,081
North DeLand
Pop 1,102
Greenwood
Pop 1,153
Plantation Mobile Home Park
Pop 1,032
Places similar to Buffalo
Head to head

Compare Buffalo to nearby cities

BUFFALO VS
Rock Island
Income$59,041−15%
Home value$125,900+3%
Population36,225+3061%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Davenport
Income$66,200−5%
Home value$166,400+36%
Population100,358+8657%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Moline
Income$67,701−3%
Home value$146,300+20%
Population42,362+3597%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO VS
Muscatine
Income$58,117−17%
Home value$153,600+26%
Population23,164+1921%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo, Iowa?

Buffalo, Iowa has about 1,097 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buffalo, Iowa?

The typical household in Buffalo, Iowa earns about $69,728 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buffalo, Iowa expensive?

In Buffalo, Iowa, the median home is worth about $122,100, and the typical rent is about $804 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo, Iowa?

About 14.6% of adults age 25 and over in Buffalo, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buffalo, Iowa?

About 18.8% of people in Buffalo, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buffalo, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Buffalo, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 163 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Buffalo with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →