Living in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Buffalo Lake · Census data 2020–2024
Buffalo Lake has 635 residents with a median age of 42.8. The median household income is $66,167 (26% lower than the Minnesota median), the median home value is $113,400, the median rent is $759/month.
Buffalo Lake is a small town, so Census survey estimates have wide margins of error. Treat percentages as approximate.
Buffalo Lake at a glance
- Population
- 635
- Median age
- 42.8State: 38.8
- Median household income
- $66,167State: $89,062
- Median home value
- $113,400State: $329,300
- Median rent
- $759/moState: $1,280
- Homeowners
- 77.6%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 17.1%
- Average commute
- 29 min
Is Buffalo Lake a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 66% lower than the state median.
Cons: Median household income 26% lower than the Minnesota median; an average commute of 29 minutes; unemployment of 5.7%; a poverty rate of 20.1%.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Buffalo Lake
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Buffalo Lake the median home value is $113,400, 66% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $759 per month, which is 25.4% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,083 a month in housing costs.
Buffalo Lake median household income
The median household income in Buffalo Lake is $66,167 and the income per person is $25,361. 20.1% of residents live below the poverty line (Minnesota: 9.3%).
Housing in Buffalo Lake: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 268
- Owner-occupied
- 77.6%
- Renter-occupied
- 22.4%
- Vacant
- 21.6%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1958
- Average household size
- 2.64
Buffalo Lake demographics
- Population
- 635
- Median age
- 42.8
- Under 18
- 25.8%
- 65 and older
- 30.2%
- Households
- 210
- Foreign-born
- 9.6%
- Veterans
- 8.3%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Buffalo Lake ›
Education in Buffalo Lake
17.1% of adults 25 and older in Buffalo Lake have a bachelor's degree or higher (Minnesota: 39.4%), and 5.9% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Buffalo Lake
- Unemployment rate
- 5.7%State: 4.1%
- Average commute
- 29 minState: 23 min
- Work from home
- 8.4%
- Drive alone
- 85.1%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 5.1%
- Homes with broadband
- 80%
Buffalo Lake vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Lake | 635 | $66,167 | $113,400 | $759 |
| Hector | 1,130 | $63,362 | $132,000 | $1,125 |
| Stewart | 644 | $65,982 | $125,400 | $763 |
| Brownton | 546 | $79,712 | $162,500 | $875 |
| Bird Island | 930 | $75,833 | $142,100 | $617 |
| Cosmos | 536 | $56,635 | $105,500 | $685 |
| Gibbon | 918 | $55,278 | $102,700 | $950 |
| Fairfax | 1,088 | $60,172 | $116,300 | $432 |
| Hutchinson | 14,680 | $72,836 | $229,600 | $940 |
More for people moving to Buffalo Lake
Buffalo Lake ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Buffalo Lake: FAQ
What is the median household income in Buffalo Lake, MN?
The median household income in Buffalo Lake is $66,167, 26% lower than the Minnesota median of $89,062 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Buffalo Lake?
The median home value in Buffalo Lake is $113,400, compared with $329,300 in Minnesota.
How much is rent in Buffalo Lake?
The median gross rent in Buffalo Lake is $759 per month, about 25.4% of household income.
Is Buffalo Lake, MN a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 66% lower than the state median. Minuses: median household income 26% lower than the Minnesota median; an average commute of 29 minutes; unemployment of 5.7%; a poverty rate of 20.1%.
What is the median age in Buffalo Lake?
The median age in Buffalo Lake is 42.8 years (Minnesota: 38.8).
How long is the commute in Buffalo Lake?
The average commute to work in Buffalo Lake is 29 minutes; 8.4% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Buffalo Lake?
The unemployment rate in Buffalo Lake is 5.7% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Buffalo Lake?
17.1% of adults in Buffalo Lake have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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