© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Buffalo.
About
Life in Buffalo
Living in Buffalo means joining a stable, growing community of about 16,400 people that sits comfortably in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area without feeling like you're living in the suburbs. With a median household income of $88,306 and a median home value around $314,400, your money stretches reasonably well here—housing costs are manageable compared to the Twin Cities, and the job market stays tight with unemployment hovering at just 3.8%, so finding work isn't the obstacle it is in many smaller towns. Your commute to Minneapolis jobs runs about 28 minutes on average, which is entirely doable if you're working in the metro but want more space and community than city living offers.
Buffalo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Foreign-Born
4.3%
Broadband Internet
92.8%
of households
Population Growth
+4.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.3% foreign-born, most often from Germany
Who lives in Buffalo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Buffalo, the largest foreign-born group is from Germany (22.6%), and 2.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.0%
of residents
65 and Older
17.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.1%
of households
Married Couples
49.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.54
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 8% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Buffalo
In Buffalo, rent runs 8% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,484
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $380,997 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Buffalo and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Wright County, which includes Buffalo, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Buffalo: Wright County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Wright County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Buffalo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute26.5 min avg
How Buffalo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Buffalo, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
Saint Cloud Regional Airport (STC)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
- 38 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 84% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Buffalo runs 84% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
53.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
356.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Buffalo Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 24 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
68.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wright County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wright County, which includes Buffalo, the most common type is hail, with 24 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 23 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500 |
| 2021 | 4 | Hail | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Winter Storm | $150,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Winter Storm | $265,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Winter Storm | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Wright County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wright County, which includes Buffalo, is typically good — 255 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
255
per year
Moderate Days
84
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Wright County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 7°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Buffalo has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 7°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
25°/7°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
31.7"
Annual Snowfall
39.8"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
163
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
92
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°F | 3°F | 0.69" |
| Feb | 27°F | 7°F | 1.02" |
| Mar | 39°F | 21°F | 1.43" |
| Apr | 54°F | 35°F | 2.57" |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 4.23" |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 4.41" |
| Jul | 81°F | 61°F | 4.33" |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 4.50" |
| Sep | 71°F | 51°F | 3.39" |
| Oct | 57°F | 37°F | 2.51" |
| Nov | 40°F | 24°F | 1.52" |
| Dec | 27°F | 11°F | 1.14" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Buffalo
Buffalo has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Buffalo Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Centracare Health - Monticello
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 9.3 mi away · Monticello
Community Behavioral Health Hospital Annandale
Psychiatric · 12.6 mi away · Annandale
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Buffalo
Buffalo's student/teacher ratio is 18.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 32.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 41 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Buffalo
Buffalo has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (41 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
41 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Buffalo
Buffalo Public Library
18 Nw Lake Blvd, Buffalo
Cities Near Buffalo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Buffalo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Buffalo FAQ
Is Buffalo, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Buffalo's median rent is $1,182/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $88,820/year. Median home value is $314,400.
Is Buffalo, Minnesota safe?⌄
Buffalo's violent crime rate was 53 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 356 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Buffalo, Minnesota?⌄
Wright County, which includes Buffalo, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Buffalo, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Buffalo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,182/month and median household income is $88,820/year. The median home value is $314,400. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Buffalo, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Buffalo is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from