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Buffalo, SD Area Profile

Buffalo, South Dakota Area, SD

Cost of Living

A quick read on everyday affordability around Buffalo, with the main cost drivers separated for scanning.

Composite Index

95.8

Grocery Index

9.1

Housing Index

8.6

Transportation Index

7.2

Cost of living summary
MetricValue
Composite cost index95.8
Grocery index9.1
Housing index8.6
Transportation index7.2

What to Watch

  • For Buffalo, the useful affordability read is the mix of housing, utilities, and local income rather than one headline number.
  • Home values are comparatively low, but maintenance, taxes, and utilities still matter.
  • Use Lemmon, SD as a same-state comparison point before treating one SD value as typical.
View South Dakota cost of living report

Utilities

Monthly utility patterns and baseline household costs for power, water, gas, and fuel.

Electric Rate Consumption

Monthly electric index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
222834456274485667826157

Water Consumption

Monthly water index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
664844363026343733554958

Gas Rate (CCF)

Monthly gas index
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
283643526147556349455257
Everyday utility costs
MetricValue
Electricity rate$0.143/kWh
Gasoline price$3.28/gal
Water bill avg$48/mo
Gas rate$1.18/CCF
View South Dakota utilities report

Demographics

Population, age mix, education, and income context for understanding the local community.

Population Age Pyramid

Age mix index
Age bandMaleFemale
0-96864
10-197571
20-348378
35-499290
50-6410097
65-748488
75+7279

Income Distribution

Income bracket index
BracketIndex
Under $35k72
$35k-$49k88
$50k-$74k100
$75k-$99k79
$100k+52

Annual Income Distribution

Median household$63,200
Per capita$33,900
Poverty rate9.8%
Community snapshot
MeasureEstimate
Population282
Median age54.6
Bachelor+20.4%

Schools

School performance and classroom context in a compact local snapshot.

Test Score Trends

Test score trend
201920202021202220232024
424851575964

Grocery Index

9.1

Housing Index

8.6

Transportation Index

7.2

Utility Index

7.9

School snapshot
IndicatorValue
Math proficiency53%
Reading proficiency58%
Student-teacher ratio14:1

Helpful Context

  • School comparisons around Buffalo are most useful when paired with district boundaries and commute patterns.
  • A single score rarely explains the full school picture for Buffalo; program fit and attendance zones matter too.
  • Nearby city pages can help separate Buffalo-specific signals from broader South Dakota patterns.

Local Economy

A simple labor-market snapshot showing local job mix, wages, and workforce size.

Industry Job Types

Industry job mix
IndustryShareIndex
Manufacturing31%74
Agriculture26%64
Healthcare19%52
Retail14%39
Other Services10%31
Local economy snapshot
MetricValue
Unemployment2.2%
Median wage$81,607
Labor force264

Climate

Winter avg: 15 degrees F - Summer avg: 82 degrees F - Snowfall: 43 in

Local Takeaways

  • The labor market is comparatively tight, which can support local wage stability for Buffalo and the surrounding South Dakota labor market.
  • The median household income value is $81,607 when ACS data is available for this place.
  • Use the economy card with housing and taxes to judge whether Buffalo works for a specific household budget.

Real Estate

Home values, property taxes, and rental context in one housing-focused snapshot.

Median Home Value Trend

Median home value trend
201920202021202220232024
$154k$161k$172k$181k$186k$189k

Property Tax Breakdown

  • County levy: 42%
  • School district: 34%
  • City/other: 24%
Housing and tax snapshot
IndicatorValue
Median home value$112,500
Median property tax paid$1,655
Estimated state sales tax rate7.39%
Rent (2-bed)$583/mo
View South Dakota property tax report

Climate

A compact view of weather patterns and natural-risk context for the area.

Avg High (Jul)82°F
Avg Low (Jan)8°F
Humidity72%

Climate Snapshot

Reference
Now--
Condition--
Wind--
Today--

Climate context is provided for planning and comparison.

Climate snapshot
MeasureValue
Sunny days196
Annual snowfall43 in
NOAA hazard risk scoreModerate

Planning Notes

  • Seasonal weather can change the practical cost picture in Buffalo, especially for heating, cooling, and maintenance.
  • Utility planning matters because electricity is in a moderate range, with usage habits driving the final bill.
  • Compare climate and insurance sections together before using Buffalo as a relocation shortlist.

Insurance

Location-based risk and cost pressure signals that can affect insurance pricing.

Risk IndexModerate
Weather RiskMedium
Cost PressureLow
Insurance summary
IndicatorEstimate
Insurance cost index95
NOAA hazard risk scoreModerate
Primary local riskWinter weather

What Affects Rates

  • Median property tax paid is $1,655, so taxes should be checked with insurance and mortgage assumptions.
  • Local claims history, coverage limits, deductibles, and property condition can outweigh broad SD averages.
  • Compare with Lemmon, SD for a broader read on South Dakota insurance pressure.
View South Dakota insurance report

Buffalo Facts

Fast factual reference points for Buffalo, combining available ACS, EIA, and BLS signals.

Buffalo, SD facts
FactValueSource context
Population282ACS place estimate
Median household income$81,607ACS household estimate
Median home value$112,500ACS housing estimate
Median age54.6ACS demographic estimate
Bachelor+ share20.4%ACS education estimate
Residential electric rate$0.143/kWhEIA state residential rate

Helpful Context

  • In Buffalo, home values are comparatively low, but maintenance, taxes, and utilities still matter.
  • City-specific ACS values are used when the place matches; state-level API values fill statewide measures.
  • Use these facts as a fast SD screen before checking address-level records or provider quotes.

Buffalo Local Data Brief

This section is generated from cached city metrics and clearly labeled state-level benchmarks. It is meant to make the Buffalo page less generic and more useful for comparing housing, income, utilities, taxes, insurance, demographics, and nearby alternatives.

Buffalo, SD local metrics and source context
MetricValueHow to read it
Population282Buffalo is treated as a very small-community place for comparison.
Median household income$81,607Income is solid, so housing and taxes usually decide the budget picture.
Median home value$112,500Home values are comparatively low, but maintenance, taxes, and utilities still matter.
Two-bedroom rent$583/moRent gives a renter-side affordability baseline beside owner costs.
Median property tax paid$1,655Property tax should be read with mortgage, insurance, and home value.
Residential electric rate$0.143/kWhThis is a state-level EIA benchmark, not a city utility quote.
Unemployment2.2%This is a state-level BLS labor-market benchmark.
Median age54.6Age mix can affect housing demand, commute needs, and school planning.
Bachelor+ share20.4%Education mix can help frame labor-market and school-context questions.

Affordability Summary

Population is 282, so Buffalo should be compared with similar-size places before using broader South Dakota averages. Median household income is $81,607, so the best affordability read for Buffalo is income versus housing, taxes, utilities, and insurance together.

Median home value is $112,500, so ownership costs in Buffalo should be checked with mortgage, property tax, insurance, and maintenance assumptions. Two-bedroom rent is $583/mo, so renters can compare Buffalo against ownership costs and nearby rental markets.

Housing and Income Context

For Buffalo, income is solid, so housing and taxes usually decide the budget picture. Home values are comparatively low, but maintenance, taxes, and utilities still matter.

Use the home value, rent, and income fields together before deciding whether Buffalo looks more favorable for renting, buying, or comparing with Lemmon, SD.

Utility Cost Context

The residential electricity benchmark is $0.143/kWh, so Buffalo households should treat usage, home size, heating, and cooling as the practical bill drivers. The electricity value shown for Buffalo is a South Dakota state-level EIA benchmark, so it should not be read as a local provider tariff.

For Buffalo, utility planning is stronger when the electric benchmark is paired with home age, square footage, insulation, HVAC equipment, and household occupancy.

Property Tax Context

Median property tax paid is $1,655, so Buffalo buyers should still verify parcel-specific tax records before budgeting. Parcel boundaries, exemptions, school districts, and reassessment rules can move the actual bill for a Buffalo address.

Compare the property tax field with home value rather than reading it by itself; a lower tax bill can still pair with a different assessment base or exemption profile.

Insurance and Risk Context

Insurance costs in Buffalo depend on address-level factors such as roof condition, structure age, coverage limits, claims history, deductible choice, and carrier underwriting.

Home value, tax burden, and insurance exposure should be reviewed together for Buffalo, especially when comparing with Lemmon, SD.

Population and Demographics

Median age is 54.6, so Buffalo may have different school, commute, healthcare, and housing demand patterns than a statewide average. Bachelor+ share is 20.4%, so Buffalo education context can be useful when reading labor-market and school sections.

Unemployment is 2.2%, so Buffalo wage and job-market context should be compared with commute options and regional employment centers.

Nearby South Dakota comparison pages
PlacePopulationHome valueElectric benchmark
Bison, SD419$72k$0.143/kWh
Belle Fourche, SD5,741$189k$0.143/kWh
Lemmon, SD1,214$80k$0.143/kWh
North Spearfish, SD2,201$322k$0.143/kWh

Source Notes

  • City-specific Census ACS values are used when a matching place row exists in the cached city metrics file.
  • Electricity and unemployment fields are state-level EIA and BLS benchmarks, so they are labeled as planning context rather than city quotes.
  • The page should be used as a comparison screen before checking provider rates, parcel records, insurance quotes, school boundaries, and address-level details for Buffalo.

Buffalo Cost Drill-Down

This dashboard keeps the fast local overview on one page, while the linked category reports go deeper into one decision at a time. For Buffalo, the strongest local signals in the current cache are population 282, median household income $81,607, median home value $112,500, rent $583/mo, property tax paid $1,655, and the South Dakota residential electric benchmark $0.143/kWh.

Buffalo category drill-down links and metric context
CategoryPrimary valueSecond valueWhy it matters here
Cost of living $81,607 $112,500 Buffalo affordability is mostly a housing-versus-income read: income is solid, so housing and taxes usually decide the budget picture and home values are comparatively low, but maintenance, taxes, and utilities still matter.
Utility costs $0.143/kWh $583/mo Buffalo utility planning should pair the South Dakota electric benchmark with home size, cooling load, appliance use, and occupancy.
Property taxes $1,655 $112k Buffalo tax planning should compare the tax-paid field with home value, exemptions, assessment rules, and parcel-level records.
Insurance costs 54.6 20.4% Buffalo insurance context should be read with housing age, replacement cost, roof condition, claim history, and nearby risk patterns.

Budget Fit

Buffalo should be read as a very small-community place where income, home value, rent, taxes, utilities, and insurance need to be checked together. Income is solid, so housing and taxes usually decide the budget picture, and home values are comparatively low, but maintenance, taxes, and utilities still matter.

Monthly Bills

The electricity value on this page is a South Dakota state-level EIA benchmark, not a city utility tariff. For Buffalo, that benchmark becomes useful when paired with home square footage, cooling load, HVAC age, insulation, and household usage.

Ownership Costs

Median property tax paid is $1,655 and median home value is $112,500. That makes the ownership read stronger than a single price estimate because taxes, insurance, maintenance, and financing terms can move the real monthly cost.

Comparison Angle

Use Lemmon, SD as a local comparison before using a broad SD average. The nearby table below keeps the comparison tied to home value, taxes, and electric benchmarks instead of alphabetical city links.

Labor and Demographics

Unemployment is 2.2%, median age is 54.6, and bachelor-plus share is 20.4%. These fields help frame school demand, commute patterns, wage fit, and service-provider availability around Buffalo.

Source Discipline

City-specific ACS values are used where the place matches the cache. State-level EIA and BLS fields are labeled as benchmarks, so this page does not pretend those values are address-level or city-utility quotes.

Nearby comparison context for Buffalo
PlaceDistanceHome valueProperty taxElectric benchmark
Bison, SD 52 mi $72k $1,280 $0.143/kWh
Belle Fourche, SD 66 mi $189k $2,183 $0.143/kWh
Lemmon, SD 71 mi $80k $1,372 $0.143/kWh
North Spearfish, SD 76 mi $322k $2,487 $0.143/kWh
Spearfish, SD 77 mi $309k $3,132 $0.143/kWh

Data Freshness

This Buffalo, South Dakota dashboard was generated on 2026-06-18. The city metrics cache was refreshed on 2026-06-16; the nearby-city coordinate cache was refreshed on 2026-06-17.

  • City metrics: Census ACS place fields are city-specific where a matching place record exists.
  • State benchmarks: EIA electricity and BLS unemployment values are state-level context, not city provider tariffs or city labor surveys.
  • Nearby comparisons: Distance uses cached Census Gazetteer place coordinates when available.

Regional Data Explorer

Zoom out from Buffalo to nearby cities, South Dakota Area, and South Dakota benchmarks.

Open Explorer
Nearby Cities South Dakota Hub South Dakota Cost Benchmarks

Benchmark Preview

Buffalo 95.8
Home value
$189k
Property tax
$2,190
Electric rate
$0.154/kWh
County Avg 97.4
Home value
$178k
Property tax
$2,240
Electric rate
$0.158/kWh
SD Avg 101.2
Home value
$286k
Property tax
$3,180
Electric rate
$0.162/kWh

Local Service Cost Guides

Use these contractor-cost guides with the Buffalo dashboard to compare local housing, utility, tax, climate, and repair-cost context.

Plumber Rates for Buffalo $85-$165/hr planning range. Leak, drain, fixture, water heater, and emergency plumbing cost planning. Opens the deepest available state guide for Buffalo, South Dakota. Open state guide HVAC Installation for Buffalo $5,500-$14,500 planning range. AC, furnace, heat pump, ductwork, and seasonal system replacement planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Buffalo, South Dakota. Open national guide Roof Replacement for Buffalo $8,000-$24,000 planning range. Roof replacement, leak repair, flashing, ventilation, and storm-exposure planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Buffalo, South Dakota. Open national guide Electrician Rates for Buffalo $90-$175/hr planning range. Panel, outlet, EV charger, lighting, wiring, and inspection cost planning. Opens the deepest available national guide for Buffalo, South Dakota. Open national guide

Data note: City-profile values are local estimates for comparison and planning context.