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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Buffalo County

South Dakota · 1,912 residents · 471.405 sq mi
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The short version

Buffalo County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $27,926. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $67,500. At a median age of 25.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 40% less than the South Dakota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 25.0
US median: 37.2
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 73%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,912
−6%since 2000
from 2,032 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 4 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
25.0
+7%since 2000
from 23.4 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Buffalo County
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$27,926
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $12,692 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,410
+119%since 2000
from $5,213 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
10.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
49.3%
−7.6 ptssince 2000
from 56.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.494
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information10.4%
US avg: 11.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.4%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 7%
Retail trade1.4%
US avg: 10.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 3.1%
Finance & insurance0%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 4.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2.4%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$67,500
+73%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$453
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $319 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
10.5%
−32.2 ptssince 2000
from 42.8% in 2000
52.8% rent
Vacancy rate
14.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
15.3%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
22.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.4
−1%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score13.5%(274)
2010
White, non-Hispanic14.8%(283)
Black0.2%(4)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(35)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other89.2%(1,706)
Diversity Score34.2%(653)
Diversity Score
34
+154%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
76.5%
+12.6 ptssince 2000
from 63.9% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
3.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 1.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.3 min
−5%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
63.7%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 55.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
6.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
18.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
17.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
41.4%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
27.7%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Female
48.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.2%
−40.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+164%
Home value$216,800+221%
Population5,278+193%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Jerauld County
Income$73,750+164%
Home value$150,800+123%
Population1,654−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Lyman County
Income$67,143+140%
Home value$165,800+146%
Population3,694+105%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Hand County
Income$74,635+167%
Home value$159,300+136%
Population3,121+73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo County, South Dakota?

Buffalo County, South Dakota has about 1,912 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buffalo County, South Dakota?

The typical household in Buffalo County, South Dakota earns about $27,926 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 $67,500, and the typical rent is about $453 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo County, South Dakota?

About 8.3% 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 49.3% 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 153 residents, a change of about 9 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

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