Buffalo is a small town of 136 in North Dakota, with a median household income of $66,250
and a 3.0% 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.
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: 89.4
Buffalo's overall cost of living index is 89.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Buffalo costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Buffalo, ND
National Avg
Median Home Value
$147,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$533
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$66,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Buffalo's violent crime rate is 423.3 per 100,000 residents
— 11% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
423.3 /100k
Property Crime
3048.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Buffalo, ND
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Buffalo sees average highs of 16.9°F in January
and 80.8°F in July,
with 24.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.7 inches of snow per year.
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 $147,200 and median rent is $533/month.
Buffalo's violent crime rate is 423.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3048.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Buffalo, ND has a population of 136, a median household income of $66,250, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%.
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.
Buffalo averages 16.9°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.2 inches
with about 36.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Buffalo, ND is covered by 1 ZIP code: 58011.
The population of Buffalo, North Dakota is 136 with a median age of 51.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Buffalo: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $147,200, median household income $66,250, crime index 125 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.
