United States › South Dakota › Buffalo County COUNTY
Buffalo County South Dakota · 1,802 residents (2025 est.) · 471 sq mi
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The short version
Buffalo County is a county of 1,808 people in South Dakota. The median age is 22.8, younger than the US median of 38.9. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 33.9% of people here live below the federal poverty line. There are 4 people per square mile. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $117,800.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 22.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 109%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 2,032 in 2000
1,802 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 4 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 23.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 2K 2K 2K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Buffalo County Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $47,045
+103%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $12,692 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $5,213 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 56.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.494 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 10.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Education & health services 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$117,800
+109%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$540
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $319 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 42.8% in 2000
47.4% rent
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
3.56 people
−11%since 2009
from 3.98 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 16.3%(332)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(18)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 17.5%(316)
Hispanic / Latino 1.7%(31)
from 23 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 63.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 1.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 55.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 28.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 61.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 47.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 50.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 74.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 93.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 90.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 47.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 15.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 5.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 30.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 21.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 42.3% 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) 40.5%(47)
Share of the 116 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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Drill deeper
Places similar to Buffalo County Head to head
Compare Buffalo County to nearby counties BUFFALO COUNTY VS
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BUFFALO COUNTY VS
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BUFFALO COUNTY VS
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BUFFALO COUNTY VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Buffalo County, South Dakota? Buffalo County, South Dakota has about 1,808 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Buffalo County, South Dakota? The typical household in Buffalo County, South Dakota earns about $47,045 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Buffalo County, South Dakota expensive? In Buffalo County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $117,800, and the typical rent is about $540 a month.
How educated are people in Buffalo County, South Dakota? About 9.9% of adults age 25 and over in Buffalo County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Buffalo County, South Dakota? About 33.9% of people in Buffalo County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Buffalo County, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Buffalo County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 49 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.
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