CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Buffalo

West Virginia · 969 residents · 1.39 sq mi

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The short version

With 969 people, Buffalo is a city in West Virginia. Owners hold 82% of the housing stock. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 4% of adults. The typical home is worth $37,100. The median household earns $15,962, about 47% below the national median. 22.0% of people here live below the federal poverty line.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Mid-age

median age 34.0

US median: 33.0

Less educated

4% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

969

−17%vs 2000

vs 1,171 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

34.0

−12%vs 2000

vs 38.7 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

1.39 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20241K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 57.1%(69)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 95.5%(53)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 149%(87)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 197.1%(69)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 246.8%(66)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3416.1%(156)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4415.4%(149)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5410.1%(98)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 649.4%(91)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 747.7%(75)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 844.7%(46)

US avg: 4%

85 and over1%(10)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$15,962

−21%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $26,481 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$8,124

−42%vs 2000

vs $14,005 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

22.0%

+4.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 17.6% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$37,100

−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $51,200 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$271

+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $337 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

82.0%

+1.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 80.4% in 2000

18.0% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic96.6%(1,131)

Black0.1%(1)

Hispanic / Latino0.9%(11)

Asian0.2%(2)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.8%(967)

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino0.5%(5)

Asian0%(0)

Other0.2%(2)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Asian origin

Chinese0.3%(3)

Ancestry

English10.3%(119)

German7.7%(89)

American7.3%(84)

Irish6.4%(74)

Italian4%(46)

Scotch-Irish2.7%(31)

Scottish1.8%(21)

Dutch1.1%(13)

Czech0.3%(4)

Welsh0.3%(4)

RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

4.2%

−2.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 6.7% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

60.6%

−16.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 77.4% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

2.6%

+1.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 1.5% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

27.9 min

+12%vs 2000

vs 24.9 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married31.7%(164)

Married54.5%(282)

Widowed1.4%(7)

Divorced12.4%(64)

Women 15+

Never married15.6%(69)

Married60.6%(268)

Widowed9.7%(43)

Divorced14%(62)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

10.2%

+0.3 ptssince 2013

from 9.9% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

64.1%

+5.2 ptssince 2020

from 58.9% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

7.8%

−2.1 ptssince 2020

from 9.9% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

24.9%

+2.3 ptssince 2020

from 22.6% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

14.3%

−9.0 ptssince 2020

from 23.3% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

1.4%

−0.3 ptssince 2020

from 1.7% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

70.3%

−0.2 ptssince 2020

from 70.5% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

34.8%

−6.1 ptssince 2020

from 40.9% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

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, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)35.1%(40)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)7%(8)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era43%(49)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War0%(0)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 114 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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