Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 829, settled in 1890.
Buffalo Center has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 875 in 1900, a peak of 1,233 in 1980, 857 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Buffalo Center, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Buffalo Center.
Among residents in Buffalo Center, 13% are under 18, against 23% in Iowa’s towns and 22% across U.S. towns, but of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a higher age of the median resident than Buffalo Center. The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate puts Buffalo Center at 829 residents, down 3.6% since 2020. 27% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
| Buffalo Center | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 34% | 19% | 18% |
| Median age | 59.4 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 13% | 23% | 22% |
Somewhere between 36% and 66% women
The Census survey reached too few of Buffalo Center’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±15.3 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Buffalo Center | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 3.8% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.9% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.9% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.4% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 6.1% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.1% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 23.7% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 19.8% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14.3% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.3% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 40.9% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.7% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.8% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.2% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 4% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 800, single groups can be off by several points
Its public schools are run by the North Iowa Community School District. Below: Two of its 3 schools, each with why it was picked. 3 public schools serve Buffalo Center, with 466 students in all.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Iowa Elementary Buffalo CenterLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 227 | B− |
| North Iowa High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 124 | D |
NCES · EDFacts
In the year to September 2026, typical home values climbed 10%. The typical Buffalo Center home is worth about $155,000, up 10.5% in a year, 35% below the Iowa typical home.
| Buffalo Center | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $640 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 73% | 70% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
The peak summer temperature for Buffalo Center comes to 82°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
In Buffalo Center, the median household income is $53,000. Jobs based locally fell to 290 in 2023, 55 fewer than in 2013. For half of commuters, work is under 20 miles away. The top destinations are Forest City (17%), Lake Mills (4%) and Titonka (4%).
| Buffalo Center | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $53,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 11% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
On expected storm and flood damage, Buffalo Center sits below 64% of U.S. communities. 48% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from drought, followed by inland flooding at 19%. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Buffalo Center after 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2008.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Among 141 Iowa towns, just 8 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Buffalo Center. The town does better than the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 6. Also worth knowing: in Buffalo Center, 30% of adults sleep under 7 hours.
| Buffalo Center | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 35% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| What stands out | Buffalo Center | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.4% | 77.8% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 86.6% | 84.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.1% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Walkers can cover 0.3 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in Buffalo Center: 4, covering 11 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lions Park | — | 7 |
| 2. Buffalo Center Municipal Swimming Pool | — | 2 |
| 3. Post Office Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Buffalo Center; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Buffalo Center residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
City in Iowa, USA
Buffalo Center is a city in Winnebago County, Iowa, United States. The population was 857 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Buffalo Center has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.