CountyScore

Buffalo County

South Dakota · SD

#48 in South Dakota
69
County Score

County Report Card

About Buffalo County, South Dakota

Buffalo performs above the curve

Buffalo County's composite score of 69.0 ranks it in the 69th percentile nationally, above the U.S. median of 50.0. It's a livable county that outperforms most of the nation.

Slightly below state average

Buffalo's score of 69.0 falls modestly short of South Dakota's average of 71.3, placing it in the middle tier of the state's 66 counties. It's a reasonable South Dakota option but not among the best.

Exceptionally low costs and taxes

Buffalo's cost score of 94.1 is the state's most affordable, with median homes at $108,000 and rent at just $535/month. Its tax score of 80.3 and effective rate of 0.781% are also the lowest in this group.

Income and health challenges

Buffalo's income score of 14.1 and median household income of $47,000 are among the state's lowest, while its health score of 36.6 signals significant wellness concerns. These offset its affordability advantage.

For deep-roots, low-cost living

Buffalo works best for retirees, remote workers, or those with independent income seeking America's most affordable housing and taxes. It's the most budget-friendly option but requires attention to health services and income stability.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax80.3Cost94.1SafetyComing SoonHealth36.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome14.1Risk86.3WaterComing Soon
🏛80.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠94.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼14.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤36.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡86.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Buffalo County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Murray County
Georgia
69
Median income: $67,880
Treutlen County
Georgia
69
Median income: $43,750
Johnson County
Illinois
69
Median income: $65,203
Boone County
Indiana
69
Median income: $104,865
Grant County
Kansas
69
Median income: $72,484

Deep Dives

Buffalo County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Buffalo County

via TaxByCounty

Buffalo County taxes nearly lowest in U.S.

Buffalo County's 0.781% effective tax rate ranks in the bottom 5% nationally, far below the 1.13% national median. The median tax bill of just $843 is less than one-third the national median of $2,690, delivering extraordinary tax savings for homeowners.

South Dakota's second-lowest-tax county

Buffalo County ranks second to Brule with a 0.781% effective rate, well below South Dakota's state average of 1.094%. The median tax of $843 is the second-lowest in the state, offering exceptional value for property owners in this rural county.

Unmatched tax advantage in region

Buffalo County's 0.781% rate is the lowest in the region, beating all neighbors including Brule (0.849%), Aurora (1.080%), Beadle (1.053%), and Bennett (1.027%). No surrounding county comes close to these tax rates.

Median home: $108,000 = $843 tax

Buffalo County homeowners pay just $843 annually on the median home value of $108,000 at a 0.781% effective rate. This works out to roughly $70 per month—the lowest property tax bill in the state and among the nation's most affordable.

Even Buffalo homeowners should check assessments

Despite Buffalo County's exceptionally low rates, individual properties can still be overassessed relative to comparables. If you believe your home's assessed value is inflated, filing an appeal with the county assessor could reduce your already minimal tax obligation.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Buffalo County

via CostByCounty

Buffalo offers lowest costs, lowest income

Buffalo County's 13.7% rent-to-income ratio appears reasonable until you examine the median household income of just $47,000—nearly $28,000 below the national average. Renters paying $535 monthly benefit from rock-bottom housing costs, but limited local earning potential presents a larger challenge.

Buffalo combines affordability with income stress

While Buffalo's 13.7% rent-to-income ratio matches the South Dakota average, the median household income of $47,000 significantly trails state peers, marking Buffalo as economically disadvantaged. Housing may be cheap, but earning potential is the real constraint.

Buffalo leads in affordability, lags in income

Buffalo County's $535 median rent ranks lowest among these eight counties and its $108,000 median home value reflects rural affordability. However, the $47,000 household income trails all neighbors except Bennett County, indicating limited local job quality.

Low costs can't offset low incomes

Renters pay just $535 monthly (13.7% of income) and homeowners only $328 for ownership—remarkably low figures—yet the $47,000 median household income constrains overall financial security. Housing affordability matters little if you can't earn living wages locally.

Buffalo requires independent income sources

Buffalo's exceptional housing costs suit relocators with remote work, pensions, or substantial savings, but not those depending on local employment. Consider Buffalo only if you bring stable income from outside the county economy.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Buffalo County

via IncomeByCounty

Buffalo lags nation by 37%

Buffalo County's median household income of $47,000 falls $27,755 short of the national median of $74,755—a substantial 37% deficit. This gap reflects profound economic challenges facing isolated rural communities across America.

Among South Dakota's lowest earners

Buffalo's $47,000 median trails South Dakota's state average of $66,926 by nearly $20,000, ranking it among the lowest-earning counties in the state. Per capita income of just $17,408 represents only 49% of the state average of $35,667.

Struggles with limited economic base

Buffalo's $47,000 edges out only Bennett County ($44,569) among peers, while falling far behind Aurora ($74,130), Brule ($74,043), Brown ($70,239), and Brookings ($67,341). Isolation and limited employer diversity constrain earning potential across the county.

Housing costs strain limited income

Buffalo's rent-to-income ratio of 13.7% means housing consumes roughly one-seventh of median income—manageable on paper. However, the median home value of $108,000 represents 2.3 years of household income, concentrating household wealth in housing while limiting flexibility.

Build stability before aggressive investing

Buffalo households earning $47,000 should prioritize income stability and emergency savings before expanding investment portfolios. Explore employer benefits, skills training, and remote work opportunities that can supplement household earnings and create pathways to higher income.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Buffalo County

via HealthByCounty

Buffalo faces critical health crisis

Buffalo County's 54.0-year life expectancy ranks among America's worst, nearly 20 years below the U.S. average of 74.5 years. With 31.5% of residents in poor or fair health—more than double the national average of 15%—Buffalo is in acute health distress requiring urgent intervention.

South Dakota's health crisis county

Buffalo County's 54.0-year life expectancy is a shocking 21.4 years below South Dakota's 75.4-year average, the lowest by an enormous margin. At 31.5% reporting poor or fair health—double the state average—Buffalo County faces the state's most severe health emergency.

Catastrophic gap from all comparable counties

Buffalo's 54.0-year life expectancy trails every neighboring county by devastating margins: 25 years behind Brookings (79.9), 24 years behind Brule (79.1), and 13 years behind Bennett (67.9). Limited provider data (no primary care data; 265 mental health providers per 100K) suggests infrastructure challenges compounding a health catastrophe.

High uninsured rate amid severe crisis

Buffalo's 12.8% uninsured rate compounds the county's health emergency, with 1 in 8 residents lacking coverage during a public health crisis. The county's 265 mental health providers per 100K suggest some behavioral health focus, but the absence of primary care data indicates critical gaps in basic healthcare access.

Buffalo needs urgent coverage and support

Buffalo County faces an unprecedented health crisis—54-year life expectancy, 31.5% in poor health, and 12.8% uninsured. Immediate action: call 211 or visit healthcare.gov now to get coverage, and contact your county health office about emergency health resources and prevention programs.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Buffalo County

via RiskByCounty

Buffalo enjoys exceptional disaster safety

Buffalo County's composite risk score of 13.74 places it in the "Very Low" category and represents just 47% of the national average. Your county ranks among America's safest regions for natural disaster exposure overall.

Among South Dakota's safest counties

Buffalo County ranks in South Dakota's lowest-risk tier with a composite score of 13.74, well below the state average of 26.84. Only Bennett County (5.92) and Bon Homme County (10.85) present lower overall disaster risk than Buffalo.

Safer than most surrounding areas

Buffalo's composite risk of 13.74 ranks below neighboring Brule County (58.72) and Aurora County (19.59). Your county represents one of south-central South Dakota's most naturally resilient regions.

Wildfire Buffalo's primary hazard

Wildfire risk (76.37) dominates Buffalo County's natural disaster profile, creating the only significant exposure among major hazards. Tornado (20.23), flood (10.85), and earthquake (12.91) risks all remain minimal.

Focus on wildfire protection measures

Buffalo County residents should prioritize wildfire coverage in homeowners insurance and maintain defensible space around properties through vegetation management. Standard fire and windstorm coverage provides adequate protection against the county's minimal tornado, flood, and earthquake exposures.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.