The Town FilesBuffalo, Kentucky
Community in Larue County · population 571 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,300
- Household income
- $47,120
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 34.9
Buffalo is a community of 571 people in Larue County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $196,300, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for families than 91% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 85% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 83% of Kentucky towns.
How Buffalo ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buffalo is worth $196,300, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $47,120, which is more affordable than 11% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $1,114 a month. 75.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,300 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $1,114 | $837 |
| Median household income | $47,120 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 75.8% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo
| People | Buffalo | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.7% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 1.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.7% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 88.6% |
Weather in Buffalo
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 54.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 28, 1997 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 3, 2007.
Severe weather in Larue County since 1996
Larue County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Larue County
Larue County had 2,578 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,904 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Buffalo itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Buffalo
- Magnolia, KY4.0 mi · 535 people · home $158,100
- Hodgenville, KY4.3 mi · 3,235 people · home $151,400
- Sonora, KY11.0 mi · 565 people · home $185,400
- Upton, KY11.5 mi · 704 people · home $156,500
- New Haven, KY12.1 mi · 798 people · home $161,700
- Summersville, KY15.3 mi · 551 people · home $96,800
- Elizabethtown, KY16.8 mi · 31,394 people · home $245,900
- Cecilia, KY17.4 mi · 575 people · home —
Buffalo questions
Is Buffalo, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo scores better for retirees than 39% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 85%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo is valued at $196,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,120, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,114 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.4 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 28, 1997. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)