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CITY

Buffalo

Missouri · 3,550 residents (2025 est.) · 2.876 sq mi
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The short version

Buffalo has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,896. Population has grown 23% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $141,800. The poverty rate of 22.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 44% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,417
+23%since 2000
from 2,781 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,188 / sq mi
+7%since 2009
from 1,112 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.9
+12%since 2000
from 37.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,550 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K3K3K3K4K1990201020202024Buffalo
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.1%(175)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 92.4%(81)
US avg: 6%
10 to 142.4%(83)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197%(240)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2411.8%(403)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.6%(363)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.1%(482)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.8%(402)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6421.5%(734)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 745%(171)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.3%(215)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(68)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,896
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,632 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,113
+202%since 2000
from $11,942 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.6%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.3%
−6.6 ptssince 2000
from 28.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.566
+50%since 2010
from 0.377 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade10.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Information5.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food3.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$141,800
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$627
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $353 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
44.7%
−10.5 ptssince 2000
from 55.2% in 2000
55.3% rent
Vacancy rate
11.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.7%
−20.8 ptssince 2009
from 38.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
19.0%
−12.8 ptssince 2009
from 31.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+7%since 2009
from 3.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
76
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Buffalo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.2%(2,674)
Black0.3%(8)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(35)
Asian0%(1)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(3,190)
Black0.2%(8)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(129)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.6%(90)
Diversity Score
16
+31%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican2.2%(75)
Mexican1.6%(54)
Ancestry
English13.2%(452)
American8.5%(292)
Irish8.5%(292)
German5.3%(180)
Polish2%(67)
Swedish0.9%(32)
Scottish0.9%(30)
Norwegian0.7%(23)
Russian0.6%(21)
Hungarian0.6%(20)
Serbian0.5%(18)
Israeli0.4%(15)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian0.3%(11)
Dutch0.3%(10)
Romanian0.3%(10)
Czech0.1%(5)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Puerto Rican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.8%
+19.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.4%
+21.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.6%
+13.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.1 min
+73%since 2000
from 19.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
91.3%
+26.1 ptssince 2009
from 65.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.8%
−14.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.9%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% 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
3.8%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.5%
−21.1 ptssince 2011
from 28.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
48.8%
−9.2 ptssince 2011
from 58.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
24.6%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
50.9%
−11.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
Female
57.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.6%
−36.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.4%
+3.4 ptssince 2012
from 18.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.7%
−80.5 ptssince 2013
from 90.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.7%
+26.0 ptssince 2017
from 63.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 99.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.3%(417)
Married57.7%(795)
Widowed2%(27)
Divorced10.1%(139)
Women 15+
Never married29.6%(503)
Married44.1%(749)
Widowed12.1%(205)
Divorced14.3%(243)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Buffalo to nearby cities

BUFFALO VS
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Home value$201,600+42%
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BUFFALO VS
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Income$67,642+70%
Home value$204,700+44%
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BUFFALO VS
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Income$48,359+21%
Home value$158,800+12%
Population15,663+341%
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BUFFALO VS
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Income$49,311+24%
Home value$177,700+25%
Population169,847+4684%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo, Missouri?

Buffalo, Missouri has about 3,417 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buffalo, Missouri?

The typical household in Buffalo, Missouri earns about $39,896 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buffalo, Missouri expensive?

In Buffalo, Missouri, the median home is worth about $141,800, and the typical rent is about $627 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo, Missouri?

About 27.8% of adults age 25 and over in Buffalo, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buffalo, Missouri?

About 22.3% of people in Buffalo, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buffalo, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Buffalo, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,008 residents, a change of about 42 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 →