On August 23, 1897, Buffalo Center became the first school west of the Mississippi River to be consolidated, and it is believed to be the second one in the nation. Today, Buffalo Center is a thriving town of about 1000 people. There is a large new community center, a museum, several new businesses and a growing K-12 consolidated school.
As of 2026 the population of Buffalo Center is 814. The population is expected to shrink to 798 by 2031 - a growth rate of -0.40%.
The median age of Buffalo Center residents is 46.
The diversity index of Buffalo Center is 25.8, meaning that there is a 26% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Buffalo Center is $81,249 and projected to be $90,604 in 2031. Per capita income is $35,187, projected to be $39,198 in 2031. 1.97% of households – 16 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $1,182,845 and the average disposable income is $61,964.
There are 435 housing units in Buffalo Center; 298 are owner-occupied, 51 are rented, and 86 are vacant. The average home value is $139,086, with 3 homes built in 2010 or later, and 129 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 81 businesses in Buffalo Center, employing 691 workers and pulling from a labor force of 383 age 16 and above. 56 workers commute into Buffalo Center from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
296 residents both live and work in/around Buffalo Center. The average travel time is 19.7 minutes. 40.2% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 6.08% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 254 drive alone, 26 carpool, and 0 take public transportation. 94 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 7 residents work from home.
245 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 100 have associates degrees, 127 have bachelor’s degrees, and 22 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
