The Town FilesBuffalo, West Virginia
Town in Putnam County · population 1,211 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,900
- Household income
- $64,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.0
Buffalo is a town of 1,211 people in Putnam County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $132,900, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks easier by car than 89% of West Virginia towns, more of a college town than 80% of West Virginia towns, better for families than 79% of West Virginia towns.
How Buffalo ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buffalo is worth $132,900, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $64,583, which is more affordable than 70% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $546 a month. 90.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,900 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $546 | $811 |
| Median household income | $64,583 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 90.0% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo
| People | Buffalo | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.8% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 12.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Buffalo
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 24.0°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.7 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 2, 2024 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on June 21, 2016.
Severe weather in Putnam County since 1996
Putnam County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, chemical, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 13, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4603: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Putnam County
Putnam County had 21,217 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,360 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Buffalo itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in Buffalo
3 public schools with 798 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo High School | 9-12 | 376 | 16.3 |
| Hannan Junior/Senior High School | 7-12 | 230 | 12.1 |
| Buffalo Elementary School | PK-5 | 192 | 11.3 |
Towns near Buffalo
- Eleanor, WV6.0 mi · 1,542 people · home $255,400
- Winfield, WV7.8 mi · 2,393 people · home $257,100
- Hometown, WV8.9 mi · 556 people · home $142,600
- Teays Valley, WV11.8 mi · 14,350 people · home $278,000
- Hurricane, WV12.9 mi · 6,961 people · home $210,500
- Poca, WV13.2 mi · 874 people · home $170,500
- Culloden, WV14.4 mi · 3,016 people · home $197,800
- Milton, WV14.8 mi · 2,811 people · home $143,900
Buffalo questions
Is Buffalo, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo scores better for retirees than 58% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 65%. 24.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo is valued at $132,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,583, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $546 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 24.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 10.7 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 2, 2024. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)