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COUNTY

Buffalo County

South Dakota · 1,802 residents (2025 est.) · 471.405 sq mi
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#3Youngest by median ageof 3,14422.8#69Shortest commutesof 3,14313.4#87Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-7.5%
The short version

Buffalo County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $47,045. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $117,800. At a median age of 22.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 37% less than the South Dakota median.

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

Total population
1,808
−11%since 2000
from 2,032 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4 / sq mi
−14%since 2009
from 4 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
22.8
−3%since 2000
from 23.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,802 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Buffalo County
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 513%(235)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 911.4%(206)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.9%(142)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1911.4%(206)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249.5%(171)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410%(181)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.5%(172)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.8%(160)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.3%(169)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 745.5%(99)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.2%(57)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.6%(10)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,045
+103%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $12,692 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,360
+233%since 2000
from $5,213 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.1%
+18.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
33.9%
−23.0 ptssince 2000
from 56.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.495
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.494 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services6.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Information5.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade2.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Manufacturing2.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance1.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$117,800
+109%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$540
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $319 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.6%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 42.8% in 2000
47.4% rent
Vacancy rate
12.1%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.7%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+3%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
51
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-Hispanic16.3%(332)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(18)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic17.5%(316)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(31)
Asian0%(0)
Other80.8%(1,461)
Diversity Score
40
+72%since 2009
from 23 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
Spaniard0.9%(17)
Mexican0.8%(14)
Ancestry
German7.2%(131)
American7.2%(130)
Norwegian2.4%(43)
French1.1%(20)
Dutch0.9%(16)
Danish0.7%(12)
English0.5%(9)
Irish0.4%(7)
Swedish0.4%(7)
Italian0.2%(4)
Polish0.2%(3)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.1%(2)
Romanian0.1%(1)
Welsh0.1%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest French population · Largest Spaniard population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.9%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.1%
+24.2 ptssince 2000
from 63.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 1.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.4 min
+4%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.2%
+26.7 ptssince 2009
from 55.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
0.5%
−17.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.3%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−15.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% 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
13.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.8%
−17.3 ptssince 2011
from 28.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.7%
−10.8 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
42.6%
+10.5 ptssince 2009
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.1%
−25.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.9%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Female
44.1%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.5%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2012
from 13.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
43.0%
−9.7 ptssince 2013
from 52.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
68.7%
+18.3 ptssince 2017
from 50.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.1%
+8.3 ptssince 2016
from 90.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married61.3%(389)
Married21.7%(138)
Widowed8.8%(56)
Divorced8.2%(52)
Women 15+
Never married59%(348)
Married25.1%(148)
Widowed6.9%(41)
Divorced9%(53)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Buffalo County

Worth County
Pop 1,914
Garden County
Pop 1,804
Wheatland County
Pop 2,100
Briscoe County
Pop 1,474
Places similar to Buffalo County
Head to head

Compare Buffalo County to nearby counties

BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Brule County
Income$73,720+57%
Home value$216,800+84%
Population5,278+193%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Jerauld County
Income$73,750+57%
Home value$150,800+28%
Population1,654−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Lyman County
Income$67,143+43%
Home value$165,800+41%
Population3,694+105%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Hand County
Income$74,635+59%
Home value$159,300+35%
Population3,121+73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9402
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 57339ZIP 57341
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →