Buffalo Lake, MN

Full City Profile · Minnesota · Renville County County

3.7 /5.0
B+ Good
664 Population 976/sq mi density
$56,719 Median Income $24,885 per capita
$106,000 Home Value $205,259 Zillow
$763 Median Rent 31.9% income on rent
44°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.5 / 5.0
$56,719 median income, 5.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$106,000 home value, $763/mo rent
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Buffalo Lake, MN

At a Glance

Median Income
$56,719
25% below
$24,885 per capita
Home Value
$106,000
62% below
Zillow: $205,259
Median Rent
$763/mo
34% below
31.9% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
20.1%
40% below
88.1% high school+
Unemployment
5.5%
53% above
7.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.7%
24% above
17.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
44°F

How Buffalo Lake Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Buffalo Lake's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
75%
Home Value
38%
Rent
66%
Poverty
64%
Bachelor's
60%
Unemployment
153%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Buffalo Lake a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.7 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Buffalo Lake residents earn a median household income of $56,719 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $24,885. The unemployment rate stands at 5.5% (53% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 594 business establishments, including 21 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Buffalo Lake is $106,000 , 62% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $205,259. Median rent is $763/month, with 31.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 98.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1960.

Education

20.1% of adults in Buffalo Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher (40% below the national average). 88.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Buffalo Lake has an average annual temperature of 44°F (6°C). Winters average 12°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 31.3 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population664
Median Age41.2 yrs
Density976/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born8.9%
Veterans5.7%

Economy

B+
Median Income$56,719
Per Capita$24,885
Unemployment5.5%
Poverty7.9%
County GDP$1,190M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,062

Housing

A+
Home Value$106,000
Rent$763
Ownership73.4%
Zillow$205,259
Housing Units267
Rent Burden31.9%

Health

Obesity39.7%
Diabetes10.5%
Smoking17.7%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death7,904/100K

Climate

Avg Temp44°F
Rain31.3 in/yr
Elevation1,072 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+20.1%
High School+88.1%
Graduate+6.5%
School Score5.8/10

Community

2024 VoteR 70% / D 28%
Commute27 min
Broadband75.5%
Internet Speed73 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries5

Did You Know?

The median home in Buffalo Lake was built in 1960.
The nearest airport is Mankato Regional (49 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.412 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
18.9% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 4 fatal vehicle crashes.