Cost of Living in Buffalo County, Wisconsin
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 #1,970 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 37%)
Sourced county brief
Buffalo County Median Owner Costs Below State Unweighted Mean
Median selected monthly owner costs in Buffalo County were $1,068, which is $4 below the Wisconsin unweighted county mean of $1,072. The county's median home value was estimated at $213,300, while the unweighted state county mean was $234,086. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 24.3%, which is 1.0 percentage point lower than the state's unweighted county mean of 25.3% as reported in ACS table B25071. Median gross rent was $876 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $916. Renter households in the county had a median income of $43,030. These figures are based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey snapshot analysis. 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 24.3% 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 $876 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,068. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,040 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 Wisconsin unweighted mean of county median rents is $916 per month. Buffalo County's $876 median is 4.3% 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
14.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,645
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.2%
of gross income
The median home in Buffalo County may be a stretch
Median home value is $213,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,703 vs. your max of $1,645.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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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
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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.
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