Cost of Living in Buffalo County, South Dakota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Buffalo County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Buffalo County ranks #6 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 0%)
Sourced county brief
Buffalo County median monthly owner costs are $340
Buffalo County's median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units is $340, which is $513 lower than the South Dakota unweighted county mean of $853. The median home value in the county was estimated at $117,800, while the state unweighted county mean is $181,021. For renter-occupied units, the median gross rent is $540 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $785. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 21.8%. This canonical rentToIncomePct is 0.9 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 22.7%. Although median household income for all households was $47,045, median renter-household income is not available. This brief incorporates data from ACS tables B25064, B25071, B25077, B25088, and B25119 from the 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. The dataVersion is acs5-2020-2024 and the methodologyVersion is cost-brief-v1, last reviewed on 2026-07-10. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Buffalo County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 21.8% of renter household income in Buffalo County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $540 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $340. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $21,600 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The South Dakota unweighted mean of county median rents is $785 per month. Buffalo County's $540 median is 31.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Buffalo County
Rent Burden
13.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,098
per month
Owner Cost Burden
8.7%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Buffalo County
Median home value is $117,800. Estimated monthly cost: $940 vs. your max of $1,098.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Buffalo County, South Dakota?
What is the median rent in Buffalo County?
Is Buffalo County affordable?
How does Buffalo County's rent compare to the state average?
What is the median home value in Buffalo County?
Counties with Similar Housing Costs
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in Buffalo County, South Dakota? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesCompare Mortgage Rates in Buffalo County
Whether you're buying in Buffalo County, South Dakota, or refinancing, compare rates from top lenders using the terms each lender provides.
See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
CostByCounty participates in affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you use our links, at no extra cost to you.