Buffalo, SD

Census Place

2024 Population

278

US Senator

John Thune

Republican Party

US Senator

Mike Rounds

Republican Party

US Representative

Dusty Johnson

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

57.2

4.76% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

6.83%

Population & Diversity

Buffalo, SD is home to a population of 278 people, from which 100% are citizens.

As of 2024, 1.08% of Buffalo, SD residents were born outside of the country (3 people).

In 2024, there were 37.1 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (260 people) in Buffalo, SD than any other race or ethnicity. There were 7 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 6 Other (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

100%

2024 Citizenship

99.6%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 100% of Buffalo, SD residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Buffalo, SD was 99.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Buffalo, SD compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Buffalo, SD

White (Non-Hispanic)
260 ± 64
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
7 ± 10
Other (Non-Hispanic)
6 ± 8

1.8%

Hispanic Population

5 people

1.8% of the people in Buffalo, SD are hispanic (5 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Buffalo, SD as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for South Dakota.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,429 ± 1,435 people
Guatemala
2,883 ± 1,316 people
Ethiopia
2,826 ± 1,303 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of South Dakota was Mexico, the natal country of 3,429 South Dakota residents, followed by Guatemala with 2,883 and Ethiopia with 2,826.

Foreign-Born Population

1.08%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

3 people

1.42%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

4 people

As of 2024, 1.08% of Buffalo, SD residents (3 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Buffalo, SD was 1.42%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Buffalo, SD compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (1990s)
6 ± 9
Vietnam
2 ± 14
Gulf War (2001-)
1 ± 14

Buffalo, SD has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (1990s), 3 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Buffalo, SD.

Economy

The economy of Buffalo, SD employs 182 people. In 2024, the largest industries in Buffalo, SD were Retail Trade (45 people), Construction (27 people), and Public Administration (25 people), and the highest paying industries were Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($250,001), Construction ($110,809), and Retail Trade ($75,750).

Employment

Occupations

182

2024 Value

± 70

−1.09%

1 Year decline

± 54.4%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Buffalo, SD declined at a rate of −1.09%, from 184 employees to 182 employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Buffalo, SD, are Transportation Occupations (33 people), Construction & Extraction Occupations (31 people), and Material Moving Occupations (25 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Buffalo, SD.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for South Dakota.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in South Dakota (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

182

2024 Value

± 70

−1.09%

1 Year decline

± 54.4%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Buffalo, SD declined at a rate of −1.09%, from 184 employees to 182 employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Buffalo, SD, are Retail Trade (45 people), Construction (27 people), and Public Administration (25 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Buffalo, SD, though some of these residents may live in Buffalo, SD and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$75,500

Median earning men ± $41,539

$44,167

Median earning women ± $12,690

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($250,001), Construction ($110,882), and Retail Trade ($86,250).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation, & Accommodations & Food Services ($50,208), Other Services Except Public Administration ($48,750), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($48,750).

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in South Dakota went to Donald J. Trump with 63.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (34.2%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.68%).

John Thune and Mike Rounds are the senators currently representing the state of South Dakota. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Buffalo, SD is currently represented by Dusty Johnson in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Buffalo, SD. Showing the available data for South Dakota.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (63.4%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (34.2%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (1.68%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in South Dakota went to Donald J. Trump with 63.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (34.2%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.68%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in South Dakota for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from South Dakota

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for South Dakota.

John Thune

Senator from South Dakota

Assumed office on January 3, 2005

Mike Rounds

Senator from South Dakota

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

John Thune and Mike Rounds are the senators currently representing South Dakota.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in South Dakota over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Buffalo, SD

Dusty Johnson

District at-large Representative

Republican Party

Buffalo, SD is currently represented by Dusty Johnson (Republican Party).

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the member for Buffalo, SD have changed over time starting in 2008.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Buffalo, SD was $114,100 in 2024, which is 0.343 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $112,500 to $114,100, a 1.42% increase. The homeownership rate in Buffalo, SD is 82%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Buffalo, SD have an average commute time of 10.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Buffalo, SD is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$114,100

Median Property Value 2024

±$44,431

$132

Median Property Taxes

±$45

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Buffalo, SD the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Buffalo, SD compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

82%

Homeownership

2024

59.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 82% of the housing units in Buffalo, SD were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 77.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Buffalo, SD compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$85,104

Median Household Income

± $10,203

161

Number of Households

± 49

In 2024, the median household income of the 161 households in Buffalo, SD grew to $85,104 from the previous year's value of $81,607.

The following chart displays the households in Buffalo, SD distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Buffalo, SD is from South Dakota.

0.44

2024 Wage GINI in South Dakota

0.443

2023 Wage GINI in South Dakota

In 2024, the income inequality in South Dakota was 0.44 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.642% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for South Dakota was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in South Dakota in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in South Dakota across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (86.3%)
Walked (6.59%)
Worked At Home (5.49%)

In 2024, 86.3% of workers in Buffalo, SD drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (6.59%) and those who worked at home (5.49%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

10.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Buffalo, SD have a shorter commute time (10.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0% of the workforce in Buffalo, SD have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Buffalo, SD compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Buffalo, SD distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Buffalo, SD have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

6.83% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Buffalo, SD (19 out of 278 people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 65 - 74, followed by Males 55 - 64 and then Females 75+.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Buffalo, SD is White, followed by Black and Native American.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798, followed by New York (5,087).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

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