The Town FilesBuffalo, Texas
City in Leon County · population 1,767 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $73,500
- Household income
- $45,202
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 40.7
Buffalo is a city of 1,767 people in Leon County, Texas. The median home is worth $73,500, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Texas towns.
How Buffalo ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buffalo is worth $73,500, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $45,202, which is more affordable than 91% of Texas towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 59.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $73,500 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $733 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $45,202 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 59.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo
| People | Buffalo | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Buffalo
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 35.1°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 11, 1953 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 27, 1990.
Severe weather in Leon County since 1996
Leon County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 21, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4705: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Leon County
Leon County had 5,852 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,846 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Buffalo itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Buffalo
3 public schools with 1,027 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUFFALO J H | 3-8 | 438 | 13.7 |
| BUFFALO H S | 9-12 | 305 | 11.3 |
| BUFFALO EL | PK-2 | 284 | 12.3 |
Towns near Buffalo
- Jewett, TX8.1 mi · 793 people · home $137,500
- Centerville, TX14.8 mi · 905 people · home $200,500
- Teague, TX17.3 mi · 3,384 people · home $119,900
- Fairfield, TX18.9 mi · 2,850 people · home $169,500
- Groesbeck, TX27.6 mi · 3,631 people · home $162,500
- Hilltop Lakes, TX28.3 mi · 1,385 people · home $233,300
- Mexia, TX28.9 mi · 6,893 people · home $109,900
Buffalo questions
Is Buffalo, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo scores better for retirees than 25% of Texas towns and quieter than 58%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo is valued at $73,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,202, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo?
July highs average 94.0°F and January lows 35.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 11, 1953. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)