Buffalo County, South Dakota

2 cities & places have their primary county here.

Population: 1,757
Median household income: $47,000
Median home value: $108,000

Buffalo County is a county in South Dakota with a population of 1,757. 2 cities and places have their primary county here. Its median household income of $47,000 runs below the South Dakota figure of $72,421.

Between 2019 and 2023, Buffalo County's population declined 13.3% from 2,026 to 1,757, while its median household income rose 35.0% from $34,808 to $47,000.

The median gross rent is $535. 7.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 1,757
Median age: 26.2 yrs
Median household income: $47,000
Median home value: $108,000
Median gross rent: $535
Housing units: 577
Homeownership rate: 52.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.0%
Unemployment rate: 9.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

2,0261,757

Median household income

$34,808$47,000

Median home value

$49,000$108,000

Median gross rent

$437$535

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	2,026	$34,808	$49,000	$437
2020	2,005	$35,000	—	$465
2021	1,974	$38,523	$88,300	$560
2022	1,859	$42,917	$103,800	$575
2023	1,757	$47,000	$108,000	$535

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 512.1%

5 to 1724.1%

18 to 2411.6%

25 to 3410.1%

35 to 4413.0%

45 to 549.7%

55 to 6410.0%

65 to 745.9%

75 and over3.4%

	Count	Share
Under 5	213	12.1%
5 to 17	424	24.1%
18 to 24	204	11.6%
25 to 34	178	10.1%
35 to 44	229	13.0%
45 to 54	170	9.7%
55 to 64	175	10.0%
65 to 74	104	5.9%
75 and over	60	3.4%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	372	21.2%
Black or African American	0	0.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	1,290	73.4%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	17	1.0%
Two or more races	20	1.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	58	3.3%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma14.4%

High school graduate47.6%

Some college or associate's31.0%

Bachelor's degree4.5%

Graduate or professional degree2.5%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	132	14.4%
High school graduate	436	47.6%
Some college or associate's	284	31.0%
Bachelor's degree	41	4.5%
Graduate or professional degree	23	2.5%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 14 min

Drove alone76.7%

Carpooled3.1%

Public transit0.0%

Walked5.2%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home12.9%

Other means2.1%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	441	76.7%
Carpooled	18	3.1%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	30	5.2%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	74	12.9%
Other means	12	2.1%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	298	59.5%
15 to 29 min	114	22.8%
30 to 44 min	70	14.0%
45 to 59 min	15	3.0%
60+ min	4	0.8%

Households

Average household size: 3.54
Poverty rate: 32.5% (568 of 1,748)

	Count	Share
Family households	319	64.3%
Nonfamily households	177	35.7%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1976

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	496	86.0%
Vacant	81	14.0%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	261	52.6%
Renter-occupied	235	47.4%

1-unit, detached65.9%

1-unit, attached1.7%

2 to 4 units2.1%

5 to 19 units5.5%

20 or more units1.0%

Mobile home & other23.7%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	380	65.9%
1-unit, attached	10	1.7%
2 to 4 units	12	2.1%
5 to 19 units	32	5.5%
20 or more units	6	1.0%
Mobile home & other	137	23.7%

Geography

County GEOID: 46017
State: South Dakota
Land area: 471 sq mi
Water area: 16 sq mi
Center point: 44.0443, -99.2040