The Town FilesBuffalo, Oklahoma
Town in Harper County · population 1,039 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,300
- Household income
- $72,065
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 39.5
Buffalo is a town of 1,039 people in Harper County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $88,300, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better for families than 97% of Oklahoma towns, easier by car than 93% of Oklahoma towns, quieter than 92% of Oklahoma towns.
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Oklahoma With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Oklahoma
- #6 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Oklahoma
- #7 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Oklahoma
- #12 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Oklahoma
How Buffalo ranks
Percentile among Oklahoma towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oklahoma towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buffalo is worth $88,300, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $72,065, which is more affordable than 98% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $696 a month. 86.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,300 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $696 | $830 |
| Median household income | $72,065 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 86.4% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo
| People | Buffalo | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.1% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.6% | 86.0% |
Weather in Buffalo
July highs average 95.8°F and January lows 21.6°F. About 22.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.6 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 98 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 23, 2008 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on March 2, 2008.
Severe weather in Harper County since 1996
Harper County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4721: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3462: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Harper County
Harper County had 1,092 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,900 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Buffalo itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Buffalo
2 public schools with 249 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUFFALO ES | PK-8 | 169 | 9.9 |
| BUFFALO HS | 9-12 | 80 | 16.0 |
Towns near Buffalo
- Laverne, OK16.7 mi · 1,223 people · home $115,600
- Ashland, KS25.7 mi · 783 people · home $70,300
Buffalo questions
Is Buffalo, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo scores better for retirees than 86% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 92%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo is valued at $88,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,065, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $696 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo?
July highs average 95.8°F and January lows 21.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.6 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 23, 2008. The typical Oklahoma town has had 33.
- 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)