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COUNTY

Buffalo County

Nebraska · 51,172 residents (2025 est.) · 968.244 sq mi
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The short version

Buffalo County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $75,911. Population has grown 20% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $246,400. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
50,579
+20%since 2000
from 42,259 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
52 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 46 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
35.1
+17%since 2000
from 30.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:51,172 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
36K40K44K48K52K1990201020202024Buffalo County
202451K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(2,955)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(3,084)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.9%(3,482)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.1%(4,079)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2410.4%(5,242)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.7%(6,418)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(6,369)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.4%(5,258)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.5%(5,298)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.4%(4,777)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.1%(2,580)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(1,037)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,911
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,782 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,628
+121%since 2000
from $17,510 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.6%
+24.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.435
+3%since 2010
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$246,400
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $87,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$936
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $495 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 63.6% in 2000
33.6% rent
Vacancy rate
6.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 37.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+23%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
53
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Buffalo County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93%(39,313)
Black0.5%(229)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(1,970)
Asian0.7%(288)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.8%(42,362)
Black0.8%(392)
Hispanic / Latino10.6%(5,385)
Asian1.6%(822)
Other3.2%(1,618)
Diversity Score
36
+82%since 2009
from 20 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
−20%since 2020
from 26 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican7.3%(3,715)
Guatemalan1.2%(612)
Salvadoran0.2%(118)
Honduran0.2%(104)
Bolivian0.2%(90)
Venezuelan0.2%(82)
Spaniard0.2%(78)
Panamanian0.1%(70)
Puerto Rican0.1%(64)
Dominican0.1%(51)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Cuban0.1%(47)
Nicaraguan0.1%(47)
Colombian0.1%(42)
Chilean0%(23)
Asian origin
Chinese0.6%(326)
Japanese0.2%(107)
Nepalese0.2%(80)
Vietnamese0.2%(79)
Korean0.1%(67)
Kazakh0.1%(50)
Asian Indian0.1%(35)
Thai0%(16)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(12)
Ancestry
German37%(18,702)
Irish13.1%(6,616)
English10.6%(5,363)
Swedish5.1%(2,603)
American4%(2,008)
Polish3%(1,533)
Czech3%(1,515)
Italian2.3%(1,169)
French2.3%(1,143)
Danish1.8%(900)
Scottish1.6%(798)
Norwegian1.5%(761)
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.8%(429)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(348)
British0.5%(248)
Welsh0.4%(199)
Swiss0.4%(195)
Russian0.3%(162)
Arab0.2%(123)
Lebanese0.2%(89)
Austrian0.2%(77)
Portuguese0.1%(63)
Australian0.1%(57)
Croatian0.1%(51)
Hungarian0.1%(43)
Canadian0.1%(39)
Slovak0.1%(39)
Ethiopian0.1%(36)
Belgian0.1%(35)
Finnish0.1%(32)
Palestinian0.1%(28)
Greek0%(23)
Ukrainian0%(18)
Armenian0%(10)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.4%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 30.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.8%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 89.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.0 min
+44%since 2000
from 11.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 4.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 73.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.0%
−28.3 ptssince 2009
from 64.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
4.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.4%
+3.4 ptssince 2012
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.0%
−83.5 ptssince 2013
from 90.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.1%
+11.0 ptssince 2017
from 80.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 92.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 5.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married38.1%(7,820)
Married50.6%(10,373)
Widowed2.3%(476)
Divorced9%(1,850)
Women 15+
Never married33.6%(6,911)
Married46.7%(9,600)
Widowed9.2%(1,882)
Divorced10.4%(2,146)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Buffalo County

Bingham County
Pop 51,153
Tuolumne County
Pop 53,160
Calaveras County
Pop 46,605
Henry County
Pop 48,095
Places similar to Buffalo County
Head to head

Compare Buffalo County to nearby counties

BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Kearney County
Income$78,631+4%
Home value$223,400−9%
Population6,790−87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Sherman County
Income$63,578−16%
Home value$152,000−38%
Population2,924−94%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Phelps County
Income$68,919−9%
Home value$194,900−21%
Population8,994−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Hall County
Income$69,251−9%
Home value$224,600−9%
Population63,633+24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo County, Nebraska?

Buffalo County, Nebraska has about 50,579 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buffalo County, Nebraska?

The typical household in Buffalo County, Nebraska earns about $75,911 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buffalo County, Nebraska expensive?

In Buffalo County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $246,400, and the typical rent is about $936 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo County, Nebraska?

About 34.4% of adults age 25 and over in Buffalo County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buffalo County, Nebraska?

About 9.9% of people in Buffalo County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buffalo County, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Buffalo County, Nebraska has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,132 residents, a change of about 35 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

11 census tracts
Census Tract 9697Census Tract 9692.03Census Tract 9692.04Census Tract 9696Census Tract 9691Census Tract 9690Census Tract 9694Census Tract 9689Census Tract 9692.02Census Tract 9693Census Tract 9695
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 68845ZIP 68847ZIP 68840ZIP 68869ZIP 68876ZIP 68836ZIP 68849ZIP 68866ZIP 68812ZIP 68870ZIP 68858ZIP 68861
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →