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Town Hall · Buffalo

In Buffalo, 80% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Wisconsin

Buffalo’s town government spent $301,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, about $422 per resident.

Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Wisconsin.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$301,000
year to December 31, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$422
In 2022: $422, less than 65% of 1113 similar towns
Long-term debt
$67,000
end of 2022, reported
Typical tax bill
$2,800
1.44% of home value · WI 1.42%

What stands out about how Buffalo is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$422 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns

Buffalo’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($422 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $511, and the middle half spent $371–$727. Buffalo spent less than 65% of them.

Middle half of the group, $371–$727Median $511Buffalo

Includes sewer and trash ($10,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
1113

Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Buffalo itself left out).

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $422 per resident a year, or $1.16 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 62%.

Where the money comes from
From the state 34%Property taxes 23%Other taxes & licenses 22%From the federal government 11%Interest, fines & other 4%Fees & charges 3%From other local governments 3%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $83,000; interest on debt $3,000. With these, the whole budget was $387,000.
Over the years

No trend yet

Buffalo reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,800 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.44% of the home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Trempealeau$4,565
Wisconsin$3,792
Cross$3,781
Dodge$3,262
Buffalo$2,800
Fountain City$2,700
Homer Township$2,523
Winona$1,891
$2,800
typical bill a year
1.44%
effective rate
$193,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Buffalo’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.

Tax bills are one input to Buffalo’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Buffalo →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Buffalo

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

Check Buffalo’s own website for current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Buffalo yet.
The school district

Cochrane-Fountain City School District

Buffalo’s K–12 school district, shared with Buffalo City, Cochrane, Fountain City, Milton, Cross and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Buffalo →
$13,362
per pupil · WI $16,459
544
students
$2.1 million
long-term debt

Of the $13,362 per pupil, $7,892 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 41%State 52%Federal 7%

Wisconsin districts overall: 39% local, 50% state, 11% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Buffalo voted in 2024

Official results for Buffalo’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President486 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican60.7%295 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat37.7%183 votes

Others: 1.6% (8 votes).

Most votes in Buffalo: Donald J Trump

Buffalo County: Trump 64.4%, Harris 34.1% · Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%

Turnout
80%

of Buffalo’s 606 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Wisconsin: 76%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate476 votes
Eric HovdeRepublican59.9%
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat38.2%
Others1.9%

Most votes in Buffalo: Eric Hovde

Buffalo County: Hovde 61.1%, Baldwin 36.3% · Wisconsin: Baldwin 49.3%, Hovde 48.5%

U.S. House · Wisconsin’s 3rd District413,181 votes
Derrick Van OrdenRepublican51.3%
Rebecca CookeDemocrat48.6%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Derrick Van Orden

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Buffalo, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Buffalo60.7%37.7%1.6%486
Buffalo County64.4%34.1%1.5%8,100
Wisconsin49.6%48.7%1.7%3,422,918
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Buffalo

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Buffalo.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Local officials aren’t on record yet.
  2. 2
    Wisconsin AssemblyState representatives
  3. 3
    Wisconsin SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Wisconsin

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Buffalo compares with the towns next door

Buffalo spent $422 per resident in 2022; the 4 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $220 to $1,075. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Trempealeau$220$4,565
Dodge$398$3,262
Fountain City$1,014$2,700
Cross$1,075$3,781
Buffalo$422$2,800

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Buffalo’s government

Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Buffalo’s government

How much does Buffalo spend per resident?

About $422 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $422 was less than 65% of 1113 Wisconsin towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Buffalo?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,800 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.44% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.42% across Wisconsin. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.

Who runs Buffalo’s government?

We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Buffalo yet.

How did Buffalo vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 60.7%, Kamala D Harris 37.7% (486 votes, official results). Buffalo County: Trump 64.4%, Harris 34.1%. Wisconsin: Trump 49.6%, Harris 48.7%.

Who represents Buffalo in the state legislature?

State Senate District 10 (Rob Stafsholt) and Assembly District 29 (Treig Pronschinske). The Assembly district also covers 65 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Buffalo’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →