Buffalo, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Rock Island County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
1,090 Population 161/sq mi density
$74,773 Median Income $33,527 per capita
$120,400 Home Value $167,177 Zillow
$821 Median Rent 18.3% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature
86 Violent Crime/100K 86 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$74,773 median income, 1.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$120,400 home value, $821/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
86 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
2.0 / 5.0
12.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Buffalo experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.3 inches. The area receives 36.1 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

23°F Jan (-5°C) 76°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average51.2°F
5% below US avg
January Average23°F (-5°C)
July Average76°F (24°C)

Geography

Elevation677 ft (206 m)
Area6.5 sq mi (16.8 km²)
Population Density161/sq mi
Coordinates41.4613°N, 90.7689°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyRock Island County County
Nearest AirportQuad Cities International (MLI)
14 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 38.3"
1% above US avg
Snowfall 36.1"
Wettest Month (Jun) 5.01"
Driest Month (Jan) 1.66"

Air Quality

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0483 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score84.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability60.2 / 100
Community Resilience87.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

1 earthquake (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.5. Most recent: M3.5 on Sep 2, 1999.

Sep 2, 1999 8 km W of Amboy, Illinois M3.5 115 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990-2025)

Tornado History

628 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 7 fatalities, 264 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Mar 29, 1981 EF4 72 km 0
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 45 km 1
Jun 1, 2007 EF3 41 km 0
May 15, 1998 EF3 83 km 0
May 9, 1995 EF3 16 km 0
May 9, 1995 EF3 83 km 0
Jun 19, 1993 EF3 96 km 0
Jul 13, 1992 EF3 85 km 0
Mar 13, 1990 EF3 44 km 0
May 8, 1988 EF3 32 km 0
Aug 15, 1978 EF3 21 km 0
Jun 13, 1975 EF3 97 km 0
Jun 20, 1974 EF3 71 km 1
Jun 14, 1974 EF3 12 km 0
May 13, 1974 EF3 23 km 0
Jan 24, 1967 EF3 99 km 1
Jan 24, 1967 EF3 90 km 0
Apr 19, 1966 EF3 23 km 0
Aug 25, 1965 EF3 79 km 0
May 7, 1962 EF3 24 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

5 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNIT 3 (1,206 ac, 1999).

Year Name Acres Distance
1999 UNIT 3 1,206 47 km
2002 HSB 03 2 1,130 47 km
2000 DESTRUST A 756 47 km
2006 HSB 003 674 48 km
2004 HSB 009 608 47 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 23°F (-5°C) 1.7 in Coldest, Driest
February 28°F (-2°C) 1.8 in
March 40°F (4°C) 2.6 in
April 51°F (11°C) 3.8 in
May 63°F (17°C) 4.7 in
June 72°F (22°C) 5.0 in Wettest
July 76°F (24°C) 4.2 in Warmest
August 73°F (23°C) 4.0 in
September 66°F (19°C) 3.3 in
October 54°F (12°C) 2.8 in
November 40°F (5°C) 2.3 in
December 29°F (-2°C) 2.0 in

Buffalo has a seasonal temperature swing of 52°F / from 23°F in January to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 38.3 inches, with June being the wettest month (5.0") and January the driest (1.7").

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