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CITY · 2020 ACS

Buffalo

Iowa · 1,176 residents · 6.77 sq mi
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The short version

With 1,176 people, Buffalo is a city in Iowa. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. 80% of homes are owner-occupied. The typical home is worth $115,400, having risen by half since 2000. The poverty rate is 1.8%, under the national 12.8%. The foreign-born share is 3%.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

1,176
−11%since 2000
from 1,321 in 2000
1990 – 2025
41.3
+18%since 2000
from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
6.77 sq mi
Population, 19902024
9331K1K1K1K19902000201020202024Buffalo
20241K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.4%(63)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.4%(87)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.7%(91)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.8%(68)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.5%(41)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.6%(136)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413.4%(158)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.9%(152)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6416.6%(195)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 749.4%(111)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.6%(54)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.7%(20)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$69,688
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,250 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$35,400
+61%since 2000
from $21,957 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
1.8%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade28.2%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade24.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Information14.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing3.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services1.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$115,400
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$625
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $471 in 2000
US average: $1,124
79.9%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 74.6% in 2000
20.1% rent
2.21 people
−8%since 2009
from 2.40 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.7
−14%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(1,232)
Black1.2%(16)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(51)
Asian0.2%(2)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic88.3%(1,038)
Black0.7%(8)
Hispanic / Latino6%(70)
Asian0.5%(6)
Other7.5%(88)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Guatemalan1.6%(17)
Mexican1.3%(14)
Ancestry
German37%(403)
Irish14.5%(158)
English6.4%(70)
American2.7%(29)
Scottish2.3%(25)
Danish1.7%(18)
Norwegian1.6%(17)
Swedish1.4%(15)
Italian1.1%(12)
French1%(11)
Dutch0.5%(5)
Welsh0.3%(3)
+ 1 more ancestry group with data
Polish0.2%(2)
Section 05

Education

10.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.6%
+10.0 ptssince 2000
from 79.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
2.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

27.1 min
+89%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.0%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 91.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
4.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

0.5%
−11.4 ptssince 2011
from 11.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
67.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2011
from 64.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
74.2%
US average: 73.3%
30.8%
+10.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

53.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 56.1% in 2009
46.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 43.9% in 2009
2.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
0.4%
−8.5 ptssince 2013
from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
81.9%
US average: 91.9%
96.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married41.6%(197)
Married41.6%(197)
Widowed2.7%(13)
Divorced14%(66)
Women 15+
Never married25.7%(105)
Married51.6%(211)
Widowed12.7%(52)
Divorced10%(41)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

0.4%
−8.5 ptssince 2013
from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
70.7%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
10.3%
US average: 13.7%
19.8%
US average: 17.6%
16.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
79.8%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
35.0%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)14.9%(23)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)6.5%(10)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era47.4%(73)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II5.8%(9)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 154 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo, Iowa?

Buffalo, Iowa has about 1,176 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buffalo, Iowa?

The typical household in Buffalo, Iowa earns about $69,688 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 $115,400, and the typical rent is about $625 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo, Iowa?

About 10.9% 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 1.8% 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 84 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →