1st Advantage MortgageAbout 53% of Buffalo County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $47,045. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Buffalo County
- Income in Buffalo County compared with South Dakota
- Employment and commuting in Buffalo County
- Renting and owning in Buffalo County
- Regional comparison for Buffalo County
- Towns and communities in Buffalo County
- What a median Buffalo County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Buffalo County
- Who lives in Buffalo County, in numbers
- Checklist for Buffalo County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
- More guides for Buffalo County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Buffalo County
With an estimated 1,808 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Buffalo County ranks 59th of 66 in South Dakota for population. It covers 471 square miles of land, or about 4 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Buffalo County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (0 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Fort Thompson, with about 1,147 residents, or 63% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Buffalo County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Buffalo County compared with South Dakota
At $47,045, the typical Buffalo County household income is 28% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 62nd among South Dakota's 66 county-level areas.
| Band | Buffalo County | Compared with South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.7% | +19.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | -3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.0% | -12.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -4.4 pts |
About 41% of households earn under $35,000, while 19% clear $100,000. 33.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.495 here. None of these numbers decides a Buffalo County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Buffalo County
Education and health care employs 35% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 18%. Compared with South Dakota, the county leans toward public administration (18% against 5%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 10.8% in Buffalo County. 2% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. Households without a car make up 13.0% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Where residents work | Buffalo County | Difference from South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.6% | +9.6 pts |
| Public administration | 18.3% | +13.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.4% | +4.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.1% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 5.5% | -6.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Buffalo County
A typical Buffalo County rental runs $540 a month including utilities, which is 43% below South Dakota. By the Census definition, 41% of Buffalo County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $117,800, a typical Buffalo County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 53% of Buffalo County households own their home and 47% rent. The median home was built in 1976, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Buffalo County | South Dakota figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $540/mo | $946/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $117,800 | $257,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 53% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 40% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 45% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.8% | 7.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | n/a |
With renters making up 47% of households, many Buffalo County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more.
Regional comparison for Buffalo County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Buffalo County's, from 22 to 38 miles away. Hand County leads the group on income ($74,635), Lyman County trails ($67,143), and Buffalo County out-earns 0 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County | - | $47,045 | $540/mo | 53% |
| Brule County, SD | 22 mi | $73,720 | $835/mo | 76% |
| Jerauld County, SD | 29 mi | $73,750 | $632/mo | 84% |
| Lyman County, SD | 33 mi | $67,143 | $651/mo | 70% |
| Hand County, SD | 36 mi | $74,635 | $587/mo | 65% |
| Hyde County, SD | 37 mi | $73,472 | $836/mo | 83% |
| Aurora County, SD | 38 mi | $72,885 | $747/mo | 73% |
Towns and communities in Buffalo County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 64% of Buffalo County residents live in one of the 2. No Buffalo County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Thompson | CDP | 1,147 | $47,159 | $563 | 10 mi |
| Gann Valley | CDP | 6 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Buffalo County budget can carry
How much room does a median Buffalo County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,920 a month: gross income for a household at the Buffalo County median
- Median rent: $540, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,028: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $540, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Buffalo County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Buffalo County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 43% of Buffalo County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 22% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 34% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Who lives in Buffalo County, in numbers
10% of Buffalo County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 43.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Buffalo County | South Dakota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 22.8 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 9.9% | 31.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 6.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 43.0% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 13.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 9.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 33.9% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.8% | 2.9% | 4.4% |
Checklist for Buffalo County applicants
Steps that save money for Buffalo County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Buffalo County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in South Dakota
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Buffalo County borrowers answers to the South Dakota Division of Banking. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: South Dakota guide.
More guides for Buffalo County
For statewide rules and data, see the South Dakota guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Buffalo County a high-income county?
Its $47,045 median ranks 62nd of 66 South Dakota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Buffalo County rent compare with South Dakota?
$540 locally versus $946 for the state, 43% below.
Which towns does the Buffalo County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Fort Thompson, Gann Valley.
Can Buffalo County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every South Dakota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Buffalo County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In South Dakota it is the South Dakota Division of Banking.