The Town FilesBuffalo City, Wisconsin
City in Buffalo County · population 1,007 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,100
- Household income
- $60,865
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 57.5
Buffalo City is a city of 1,007 people in Buffalo County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $182,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 92% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Buffalo City ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buffalo City is worth $182,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $60,865, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $697 a month. 94.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo City | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $697 | $951 |
| Median household income | $60,865 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.7% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo City
| People | Buffalo City | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 32.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Buffalo City
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 7.9°F. About 35.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo City since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 13, 2023.
Severe weather in Buffalo County since 1996
Buffalo County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buffalo County
Buffalo County had 3,616 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,517 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Buffalo City itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Buffalo City
- Milton, WI6.2 mi · 541 people · home $256,400
- Waumandee, WI7.8 mi · 508 people · home $231,500
- Rollingstone, MN8.0 mi · 759 people · home $229,300
- Alma, WI8.5 mi · 716 people · home $177,900
- Greenfield, MN8.8 mi · 1,308 people · home $261,500
- Rollingstone, MN8.9 mi · 678 people · home $239,400
- Norton, MN11.1 mi · 523 people · home $405,000
- Fountain City, WI11.3 mi · 806 people · home $169,000
Buffalo City questions
Is Buffalo City, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo City scores better for retirees than 73% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 92%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.5).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo City?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo City is valued at $182,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,865, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $697 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo City?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 7.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo City get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)