The Town FilesBuffalo Center, Iowa
City in Winnebago County · population 857 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $100,500
- Household income
- $52,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 59.4
Buffalo Center is a city of 857 people in Winnebago County, Iowa. The median home is worth $100,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Iowa towns, hipper than 98% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Buffalo Center ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buffalo Center is worth $100,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $52,917, which is more affordable than 76% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $640 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo Center | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $100,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $640 | $820 |
| Median household income | $52,917 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo Center
| People | Buffalo Center | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Buffalo Center
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 5.6°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo Center since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 7, 1984 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 11, 1962.
Severe weather in Winnebago County since 1996
Winnebago County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Winnebago County
Winnebago County had 4,041 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,021 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Buffalo Center itself the ACS puts it at 10.9%.
Public schools in Buffalo Center
3 public schools with 465 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Iowa Elementary Buffalo Center | PK-5 | 231 | 15.4 |
| North Iowa High School | 9-12 | 134 | 19.1 |
| North Iowa Middle School | 6-8 | 100 | 12.5 |
Towns near Buffalo Center
- Elmore, MN10.9 mi · 549 people · home $46,700
- Titonka, IA11.6 mi · 511 people · home $65,800
- Bancroft, IA15.3 mi · 699 people · home $120,700
- Forest City, IA17.9 mi · 4,285 people · home $143,500
- Swea City, IA18.5 mi · 566 people · home $56,400
- Blue Earth, MN19.1 mi · 3,174 people · home $143,600
- Lake Mills, IA20.7 mi · 2,143 people · home $122,600
- Britt, IA21.3 mi · 2,044 people · home $101,900
Buffalo Center questions
Is Buffalo Center, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo Center scores better for retirees than 99% of Iowa towns and quieter than 93%. 34.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.4).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo Center is valued at $100,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,917, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $640 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo Center?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 5.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 44.3 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo Center get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 7, 1984. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)