Buffalo, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Buffalo, West Virginia had a total population of 1,150, the 132nd largest town in West Virginia, with a median household income of $64,583, which is 8% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
- Unemployment rate of 8.1% is notably above the national average.
Buffalo Quick Facts
How Buffalo Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,110 | 1,150 | +3.6% |
| Median household income | $55,313 | $64,583 | +16.8% |
| Median home value | $124,100 | $132,900 | +7.1% |
How Buffalo Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 19 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Buffalo Rankings in West Virginia
Explore West Virginia Rankings
Other Cities in Putnam County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teays Valley | 14,151 | $108,741 | 5.1% | $278,000 |
| Hurricane | 6,855 | $71,167 | 8.5% | $210,500 |
| Winfield | 2,918 | $103,276 | 15.9% | $257,100 |
| Eleanor | 1,726 | $78,578 | 5.9% | $255,400 |
| Poca | 872 | $77,292 | 17.5% | $170,500 |
| Hometown | 756 | $28,876 | 30.2% | $142,600 |
| Bancroft | 475 | $94,375 | 10.9% | $116,400 |
| Raymond City | 28 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Buffalo
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1,139 | $60,365 | $251,000 | 33.3% | 6.9% |
| Enterprise | 1,087 | $63,636 | $131,300 | 6.3% | 4.6% |
| Brush Fork | 1,096 | $70,098 | $90,000 | 18.6% | 9.2% |
| Hamlin | 1,068 | $61,429 | $95,500 | 16.2% | 21.7% |
| Rand | 1,064 | $61,047 | $89,900 | 25.3% | 8.6% |
Population Overview
Buffalo is a small community located in West Virginia, within Putnam County. The total population is 1,150. It ranks as the 132nd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.
Age Demographics
The median age in Buffalo is 42.0 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 42.7 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Buffalo is $64,583. This is 8% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.9%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 8.1%. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $132,900. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Buffalo is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 90.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 74.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Buffalo has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.5%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.1%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.
Education
12.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Buffalo, West Virginia 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 West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all West Virginia city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Buffalo, West Virginia?
Buffalo, West Virginia has a population of 1,150 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Buffalo, WV?
The median household income in Buffalo is $64,583, which is 20% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Buffalo, WV?
The poverty rate in Buffalo is 19.9%. This means approximately 223 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Buffalo, West Virginia?
Buffalo's population is 98.5% White, 0.5% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Buffalo, WV?
The median home value in Buffalo is $132,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Buffalo, West Virginia?
12.8% of adults (25+) in Buffalo hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.