What are the schools like in Buffalo, IA?

Buffalo is served primarily by Davenport Comm School District. The district operates 15 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Buffalo?

The median household income in Buffalo, IA is $74,667 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.6%.

What is the weather like in Buffalo, IA?

Buffalo has an average high temperature of 31.0°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.1 inches.

Buffalo, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Buffalo, IA affordable or expensive?

Buffalo's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Buffalo is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $131,000 and the median rent is $767 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Buffalo, IA?

Buffalo has a violent crime rate of 86.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 86.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Buffalo, IA a Good Place to Live?

Buffalo is a small town of 995 in Iowa, with a median household income of $74,667 and a 0.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Buffalo stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Buffalo is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Buffalo city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.3

Buffalo's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Buffalo costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Buffalo, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$131,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$767	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,667	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Buffalo's violent crime rate is 86.3 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

86.3 /100k

Property Crime

86.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Buffalo is served primarily by Davenport Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Buffalo, IA	National Avg
School District	Davenport Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	15	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Buffalo sees average highs of 31.0°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 38.8 inches of annual precipitation and 36.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Buffalo, IA
Average High — January	31.0°F
Average High — July	83.9°F
Annual Precipitation	38.8"
Annual Snowfall	36.1"

Demographics

Metric	Buffalo, IA	National Avg
Population	995	—
Median Age	40.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	25.4%	22.2%
65 and over	18.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Montpelier, IA 2 mi Andalusia, IL 3 mi Blue Grass, IA 3 mi Edgington, IL 5 mi Taylor Ridge, IL 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Buffalo

Buffalo, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52728

Buffalo vs Other Cities

Buffalo, IA vs Montpelier, IA Buffalo, IA vs Andalusia, IL Buffalo, IA vs Blue Grass, IA Buffalo, IA vs Edgington, IL Buffalo, IA vs Taylor Ridge, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buffalo, IA affordable or expensive?

Buffalo's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Buffalo roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $131,000 and median rent is $767/month.

What is the crime rate in Buffalo, IA?

Buffalo's violent crime rate is 86.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 86.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Buffalo?

Public schools in Buffalo are operated by Davenport Comm School District. The district has 15 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 11.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Buffalo, IA a good place to live?

Buffalo, IA has a population of 995, a median household income of $74,667, and an unemployment rate of 0.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Buffalo?

Buffalo averages 31.0°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.8 inches with about 36.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Buffalo?

Buffalo, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52728.

What is the population of Buffalo?

The population of Buffalo, Iowa is 995 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Buffalo?

Key numbers for living in Buffalo: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $131,000, median household income $74,667, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Buffalo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.