Population 13,393 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Buffalo County
Household size in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Buffalo County are small: just 2.33 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.39, in line with the national trend.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.6 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.5 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Buffalo County skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.8 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Buffalo County: 8.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Buffalo County
Renters in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Buffalo County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 46.8% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the northeast; owners are most common in the southwest.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.3% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Buffalo County than nationally: 11.7%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.8 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Buffalo County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only four of Wisconsin's 72 counties have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $645 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $656 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $760 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $945 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$300 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in Buffalo County runs $945 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $300 a month since 2006–10, up 47%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 23.1% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Buffalo County
Bachelor's degrees in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.0% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.0% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.5 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Buffalo County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.0%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.5 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.1% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.9% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Buffalo County is above the national rate: 92.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Wisconsin. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.9 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Buffalo County
| Period | Buffalo County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Buffalo County has been strong: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Buffalo County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County | 2.33 | 46.8 | 8.3% | 22.5% | 11.7% | 1967 | $945 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 2.9% |
| Trempealeau County | 2.48 | 39.7 | 8.5% | 26.0% | 6.3% | 1977 | $951 | 20.6% | 89.7% | 2.4% |
| Wabasha County | 2.35 | 44.9 | 6.0% | 16.7% | 10.8% | 1975 | $887 | 26.9% | 94.9% | 2.2% |
| Jackson County | 2.46 | 43.7 | 9.5% | 19.9% | 15.3% | 1979 | $827 | 15.8% | 92.1% | 5.2% |
| Goodhue County | 2.42 | 43.1 | 8.1% | 21.2% | 7.0% | 1973 | $1,060 | 27.9% | 93.3% | 3.7% |
| Rice County | 2.55 | 39.3 | 9.7% | 23.7% | 7.6% | 1975 | $1,181 | 32.1% | 92.7% | 4.3% |
| Wood County | 2.31 | 43.8 | 10.0% | 27.4% | 8.0% | 1971 | $884 | 21.2% | 94.6% | 3.7% |
| Le Sueur County | 2.50 | 42.1 | 7.7% | 19.0% | 10.3% | 1974 | $1,047 | 26.3% | 94.4% | 4.1% |
| Portage County | 2.30 | 40.2 | 8.2% | 30.3% | 6.5% | 1979 | $969 | 33.6% | 94.3% | 3.1% |
| Nicollet County | 2.42 | 38.5 | 9.1% | 27.8% | 6.0% | 1981 | $1,052 | 36.8% | 95.1% | 2.1% |
| Waupaca County | 2.24 | 45.2 | 9.6% | 24.7% | 11.8% | 1975 | $956 | 20.4% | 92.1% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Mineral County, NV · Gentry County, MO · Graham County, NC · Grand County, UT · Grant County, MN · Grant County, OR · Grant County, SD · Greenwood County, KS · Gregory County, SD · Guadalupe County, NM
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Buffalo County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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