The Town FilesNew Buffalo, Michigan
City in Berrien County · population 1,708 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $391,200
- Household income
- $64,702
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 54.5
New Buffalo is a city of 1,708 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $391,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 100% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 96% of Michigan towns.
How New Buffalo ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in New Buffalo is worth $391,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $64,702, which is more affordable than 1% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,042 a month. 77.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Buffalo | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $391,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,042 | $955 |
| Median household income | $64,702 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 44.6% | — |
Who lives in New Buffalo
| People | New Buffalo | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in New Buffalo
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Buffalo since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 12, 1976 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 26, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 7, 2024.
Severe weather in Berrien County since 1996
Berrien County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Berrien County
Berrien County had 60,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,009 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in New Buffalo itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in New Buffalo
3 public schools with 508 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Buffalo Elementary School | PK-5 | 216 | 10.8 |
| New Buffalo Senior High School | 9-12 | 169 | 11.3 |
| New Buffalo Middle School | 6-8 | 123 | 9.5 |
Towns near New Buffalo
- New Buffalo, MI1.2 mi · 2,455 people · home $618,200
- Long Beach, IN6.4 mi · 1,189 people · home $672,300
- Three Oaks, MI6.4 mi · 2,324 people · home $245,500
- Three Oaks, MI6.6 mi · 1,370 people · home $215,700
- Chikaming, MI7.7 mi · 2,778 people · home $366,900
- Michigan City, IN8.6 mi · 32,075 people · home $143,100
- Trail Creek, IN8.8 mi · 2,060 people · home $191,800
- Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert, MI8.9 mi · 1,249 people · home $343,000
New Buffalo questions
Is New Buffalo, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Buffalo scores better for retirees than 95% of Michigan towns and quieter than 58%. 33.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.5).
How much does a house cost in New Buffalo?
The median owner-occupied home in New Buffalo is valued at $391,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,702, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,042 a month.
What is the weather like in New Buffalo?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 56.6 inches of snow.
Does New Buffalo get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Buffalo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 12, 1976. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)