Buffalo County, South Dakota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Buffalo County is located in South Dakota with a total population of 1,757. It is the 60th most populous county out of 66 in South Dakota. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Buffalo County is 26.2 years. This is 31% lower than the state median of 37.7 years. With 36.3% of the population under 18, Buffalo County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Buffalo County is $47,000. This is 35% lower than the state median of $72,421. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 32.5%. This is 171% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. 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 9.7%. This is 224% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $108,000. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $236,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Buffalo County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 52.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 68.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Buffalo County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (21.2%) is well below the state average of 80.3%.

Education

7.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 78% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Buffalo County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against South Dakota and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.