Population
1,802
2025
−6.8% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Buffalo County, SD: population growth, jobs and income
Buffalo County lost 7 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.4%).
Buffalo County had an estimated 1,802 residents in 2025, down 6.8% (131 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than South Dakota as a whole (+5.3%), and the 65th fastest growth of 65 counties in South Dakota.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Buffalo County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Buffalo County, ranked against South Dakota and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$540/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes12.1%2020–24
- Rent growth, 5 years+16.1%2016-2020 to 2020-2024
- New homes permitted, last 12 monthsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−12
2025
−6.7 per 1,000 residents
−111 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
2025
−1.5 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
Not reported
Not in the Census Building Permits Survey after 2022, so there is no current figure.
Median household income
$47,045
2020–24
+34.4% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
135
2023
−20.1% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 12 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 135 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −20.1% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.4% in 2025, 1.5 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Median household income was $47,045 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +34.4% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 3,021st.
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Buffalo County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,802 | −7 |
| 2024 | 1,809 | −61 |
| 2023 | 1,870 | +40 |
| 2022 | 1,830 | −52 |
| 2021 | 1,882 | −51 |
| 2020 | 1,933 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Buffalo County
Buffalo County lost 131 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−111).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +6 | −20 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +0 | +0 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −12 | −111 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −1 | +0 | |
| Total change | −7 | −131 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In South Dakota | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 65th of 65 | 3,021st of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 49th of 65 | 2,704th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 63rd of 65 | 3,030th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 61st of 65 | 2,863rd of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 62nd of 65 | 2,054th of 3,108 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Buffalo County, SD as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Brule County and Lyman County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Buffalo County lost population faster than all 5 of its neighbouring counties (−6.8%, 2020–25).
Its median household income ($47,045, 2020–24) is lower than in all 5 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo County, SD This county | 1,802 | −6.8% | −6.7 | – | $47,045 |
| Brule County, SD | 5,278 | +0.5% | −8.0 | 3.8 | $73,720 |
| Hand County, SD | 3,121 | −0.7% | 0.3 | 1.6 | $74,635 |
| Hyde County, SD | 1,191 | −4.6% | −8.4 | 0.0 | $73,472 |
| Jerauld County, SD | 1,654 | +0.6% | −4.8 | 3.0 | $73,750 |
| Lyman County, SD | 3,694 | −0.1% | −8.4 | 1.9 | $67,143 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Buffalo County growing?
No. Its population fell 6.8% between 2020 and 2025, about 131 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). South Dakota as a whole changed +5.3% over the same years. That ranks 65th of 65 counties in South Dakota for population growth.
How many people moved to Buffalo County?
On net, none in 2025: about 12 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Buffalo County?
It averaged 4.4% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Buffalo County?
About 1,802 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Buffalo County?
Private employers there had 135 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −20.1% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in South Dakota
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other South Dakota county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Buffalo County data alerts
Email me when Buffalo County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.