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Buffalo County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Buffalo County, Wisconsin has a population of 13,393, the 67th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $70,479 and the median home value is $213,300. The poverty rate is 8.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Buffalo County Quick Facts

Population 13,393
Median Household Income $70,479
Median Home Value $213,300
Poverty Rate 8.4%
Unemployment Rate 2.9%
Median Age 46.5 years
Homeownership Rate 77.5%
Affordability Ratio 3.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 22.1%
High School Graduation 92.7%
Cities/Places 8
Population 13,393 67th of 72
Median Income $70,479 9% lower than state
Poverty Rate 8.4%
Unemployment 2.9%

How Buffalo County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population13,34113,393+0.4%
Median household income$68,722$70,479+2.6%
Median home value$197,600$213,300+7.9%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.9%
$25K-$50K 20.0%
$50K-$100K 32.6%
$100K+ 32.5%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.0%
$10K-$15K
3.8%
$15K-$20K
5.2%
$20K-$25K
2.9%
$25K-$30K
3.8%
$30K-$35K
4.3%
$35K-$40K
4.6%
$40K-$45K
4.0%
$45K-$50K
3.4%
$50K-$60K
7.9%
$60K-$75K
9.6%
$75K-$100K
15.1%
$100K-$125K
12.7%
$125K-$150K
7.1%
$150K-$200K
8.4%
$200K+
4.3%

Employment

2.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%
62.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.5%
Renter 22.5%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $876/mo 14.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

12out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 37 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Buffalo County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Mondovi2,872$54,35513.3%$174,500
Buffalo City902$60,8658.2%$182,100
Fountain City835$51,75011.3%$169,000
Alma788$58,36814.3%$177,900
Cochrane516$88,5425.1%$139,700
Nelson381$70,62514.4%$164,200
Gilmanton148$52,0007.4%$206,600
Waumandee81$70,3131.2%$165,600

Population Overview

Buffalo County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 13,393. It is the 67th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Buffalo County is 46.5 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Buffalo County is $70,479. This is 9% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $213,300. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Buffalo County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 8.0%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

22.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Buffalo County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Wisconsin 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Buffalo County, Wisconsin?

Buffalo County has a population of 13,393, making it the 67th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Buffalo County?

The median household income in Buffalo County is $70,479 with a poverty rate of 8.4%.

How many cities are in Buffalo County, Wisconsin?

Buffalo County contains 8 Census-designated places.