Is Buffalo, SC a Good Place to Live?
Buffalo is a small town of 1,159 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $19,770 and a 10.7% unemployment rate.
Strengths: Buffalo stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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
Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the Buffalo metro area.
| Metric | Buffalo, SC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $45,500 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | N/A | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 81.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $19,770 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Higher than AverageBuffalo's violent crime rate is 490.6 per 100,000 residents — 29% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Buffalo is served primarily by Union 01. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Buffalo, SC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Union 01 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.3:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 88.1% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Buffalo sees average highs of 52.9°F in January and 90.4°F in July, with 45.2 inches of annual precipitation and 1.9 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Buffalo, SC |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 52.9°F |
| Average High — July | 90.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" |
Demographics
| Metric | Buffalo, SC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,159 | — |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.9 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 95.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 4.4% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 36.0% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 4.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Buffalo
Buffalo, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: