United States › South Dakota › Buffalo County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Buffalo County South Dakota · 1,948 residents · 471 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Buffalo County is a county of 1,948 people in South Dakota. This skews young, with a median age of 25.8. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. The poverty rate is 37.3%, above the 12.8% national rate. Households here earn about 42% less than in South Dakota as a whole. The foreign-born share is 0%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 25.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Renter-heavy
52% owner-occupied
US average: 63%
Section 01
Population & growth from 23.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 2K 2K 2K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Buffalo County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $35,000
+83%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $12,692 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $5,213 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 56.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 12.9%
Public administration 2.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.8%
Education & health services 1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
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$465
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $319 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 42.8% in 2000
48.5% rent
from 3.98 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 16.3%(332)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(18)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 14.7%(286)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(13)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 63.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 1.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 55.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 28.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 47.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 47.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 31.7%(39)
Share of the 123 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
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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 1,948 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Buffalo County, South Dakota? The typical household in Buffalo County, South Dakota earns about $35,000 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 typical rent is about $465 a month.
How educated are people in Buffalo County, South Dakota? About 8.1% 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 37.3% 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 189 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.
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