The Town FilesBuffalo, Iowa
City in Scott County · population 1,176 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,100
- Household income
- $69,728
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 42.0
Buffalo is a city of 1,176 people in Scott County, Iowa. The median home is worth $122,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 79% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 76% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 74% of Iowa towns.
How Buffalo 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 is worth $122,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $69,728, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 76.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,100 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $804 | $820 |
| Median household income | $69,728 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo
| People | Buffalo | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Buffalo
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 13.4°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 9, 1995 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 8, 2018.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 90,947 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,138 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Buffalo itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Buffalo
1 public school with 276 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Elementary School | PK-6 | 276 | 13.1 |
Towns near Buffalo
- Andalusia, IL3.3 mi · 1,184 people · home $168,000
- Blue Grass, IA3.4 mi · 1,666 people · home $222,500
- Walcott, IA8.7 mi · 1,551 people · home $190,300
- Rock Island, IL9.5 mi · 37,108 people · home $125,900
- Davenport, IA10.8 mi · 101,724 people · home $166,400
- Milan, IL10.8 mi · 5,097 people · home $119,300
- Coyne Center, IL11.5 mi · 877 people · home $221,400
- Durant, IA12.2 mi · 1,871 people · home $194,300
Buffalo questions
Is Buffalo, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo scores better for retirees than 54% of Iowa towns and quieter than 72%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo is valued at $122,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,728, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 13.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 29.2 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 9, 1995. 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)