Buffalo Lake, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 635, Buffalo Lake's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Buffalo Lake is a small community located in Minnesota, within Renville County. The total population is 635. It ranks as the 447th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.

Age Demographics

The median age in Buffalo Lake is 42.8 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 18.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Buffalo Lake is $66,167. This is 26% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 116% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 40% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $113,400. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Buffalo Lake is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 72.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Buffalo Lake is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 30.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (30.9% vs 6.4%).

Education

17.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Buffalo Lake, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.