What are the schools like in Buffalo, WY?

Buffalo is served primarily by Johnson County School District #1. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.6:1.

What is the median household income in Buffalo?

The median household income in Buffalo, WY is $55,245 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.

What is the weather like in Buffalo, WY?

Buffalo has an average high temperature of 36.0°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Buffalo, WY affordable or expensive?

Buffalo's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Buffalo is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $266,500 and the median rent is $919 per month.

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

Buffalo has a violent crime rate of 85.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 768.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Buffalo, WY a Good Place to Live?

Buffalo is a small town of 4,475 in Wyoming, with a median household income of $55,245 and a 4.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Buffalo stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

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: 96.8

Buffalo's overall cost of living index is 96.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Buffalo costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Buffalo, WY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$266,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$919	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,245	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Buffalo's violent crime rate is 85.3 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

85.3 /100k

Property Crime

768.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Buffalo is served primarily by Johnson County School District #1. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Buffalo, WY	National Avg
School District	Johnson County School District #1	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Buffalo sees average highs of 36.0°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 13.8 inches of annual precipitation and 42.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Buffalo, WY
Average High — January	36.0°F
Average High — July	82.8°F
Annual Precipitation	13.8"
Annual Snowfall	42.7"

Demographics

Metric	Buffalo, WY	National Avg
Population	4,475	—
Median Age	49.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.5%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	17.0%	22.2%
65 and over	30.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Story, WY 19 mi Clearmont, WY 27 mi Big Horn, WY 27 mi Powder Horn, WY 27 mi Sheridan, WY 34 mi

ZIP Codes in Buffalo

Buffalo, WY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

82834

Buffalo vs Other Cities

Buffalo, WY vs Story, WY Buffalo, WY vs Clearmont, WY Buffalo, WY vs Big Horn, WY Buffalo, WY vs Powder Horn, WY Buffalo, WY vs Sheridan, WY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buffalo, WY affordable or expensive?

Buffalo's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Buffalo roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $266,500 and median rent is $919/month.

What is the crime rate in Buffalo, WY?

Buffalo's violent crime rate is 85.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 768.1 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 Johnson County School District #1. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 35.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Buffalo, WY a good place to live?

Buffalo, WY has a population of 4,475, a median household income of $55,245, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%. 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 36.0°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.8 inches with about 42.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Buffalo?

Buffalo, WY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 82834.

What is the population of Buffalo?

The population of Buffalo, Wyoming is 4,475 with a median age of 49.0. 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 97 (100 = US average), median home $266,500, median household income $55,245, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.