The Town FilesBuffalo County, South Dakota
1,808 people. The median home is worth $117,800 (typical South Dakota town: $182,100) and the median household earns $47,045.
Towns in Buffalo County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Thompson | 1,224 | $150,000 | $47,159 | 22.8 |
People and housing
| Buffalo County | Typical South Dakota town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,800 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $540 | $785 |
| Median household income | $47,045 | $66,086 |
| Median age | 22.8 | 39.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.9% | 10.1% |
Jobs and pay
538 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,972 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 390 storm events in Buffalo County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Buffalo County has been included in 21 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4938: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| July 30, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4233: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).