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COUNTY

Buffalo County

Wisconsin · 13,318 residents (2025 est.) · 675.791 sq mi
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The short version

Buffalo County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,479. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $213,300. With a median age of 46.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. 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
Older
median age 46.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,393
−3%since 2000
from 13,804 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
20 / sq mi
−2%since 2009
from 20 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
46.5
+19%since 2000
from 39.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,318 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K13K13K14K14K1990201020202024Buffalo County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(635)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(775)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(764)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.6%(744)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(626)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.9%(1,332)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(1,555)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412%(1,607)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416%(2,137)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.1%(1,890)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.1%(946)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.9%(382)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,479
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,200 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,280
+111%since 2000
from $18,123 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.6%
+25.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.404
+5%since 2010
from 0.385 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance8.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$213,300
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$876
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $399 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
22.5% rent
Vacancy rate
12.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+8%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
54
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-Hispanic98.2%(13,555)
Black0.1%(15)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(85)
Asian0.3%(44)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(12,540)
Black0.4%(57)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(385)
Asian0.2%(24)
Other2.9%(387)
Diversity Score
15
+112%since 2009
from 7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
7
−65%since 2020
from 21 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
Mexican1.9%(260)
Puerto Rican0.2%(30)
Cuban0.2%(23)
Peruvian0.1%(14)
Colombian0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(20)
Filipino0.1%(9)
Chinese0%(2)
Ancestry
German40.8%(5,471)
Norwegian18.7%(2,511)
Polish11.4%(1,524)
Irish7.8%(1,045)
English4.8%(648)
American3.8%(513)
Swiss2.7%(364)
French1.9%(261)
Austrian1.8%(244)
Swedish1.3%(174)
Dutch1%(136)
Italian1%(132)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.9%(117)
Scottish0.5%(62)
Danish0.4%(55)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(40)
Welsh0.3%(37)
Hungarian0.2%(29)
Finnish0.2%(25)
British0.2%(24)
Russian0.2%(22)
Croatian0.1%(19)
Portuguese0.1%(17)
Greek0.1%(8)
Slovak0.1%(7)
Slovene0.1%(7)
Belgian0%(6)
Arab0%(5)
Iranian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Polish population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.1%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.7%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 84.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.5 min
+59%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.5%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 72.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.6%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 4.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.8%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 66.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.8%
−26.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
49.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.7%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2012
from 11.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.2%
−87.2 ptssince 2013
from 91.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.8%
+13.6 ptssince 2017
from 74.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29%(1,655)
Married54.3%(3,105)
Widowed3%(169)
Divorced13.8%(787)
Women 15+
Never married22.8%(1,252)
Married53.8%(2,958)
Widowed10.7%(588)
Divorced12.8%(705)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Buffalo County to nearby counties

BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Pepin County
Income$75,256+7%
Home value$214,800+1%
Population7,513−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Trempealeau County
Income$76,313+8%
Home value$216,700+2%
Population31,171+134%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Wabasha County
Income$82,007+16%
Home value$264,400+24%
Population21,537+62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUFFALO COUNTY VS
Winona County
Income$70,744same
Home value$235,400+10%
Population50,523+279%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buffalo County, Wisconsin?

Buffalo County, Wisconsin has about 13,393 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Buffalo County, Wisconsin earns about $70,479 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buffalo County, Wisconsin expensive?

In Buffalo County, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $213,300, and the typical rent is about $876 a month.

How educated are people in Buffalo County, Wisconsin?

About 22.1% of adults age 25 and over in Buffalo County, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buffalo County, Wisconsin?

About 8.4% of people in Buffalo County, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buffalo County, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Buffalo County, Wisconsin has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 191 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9605Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9603
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 54755ZIP 54629ZIP 54622ZIP 54610ZIP 54756
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →