Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Buffalo is healthier than 63%
Buffalo differs from Wyoming on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buffalo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buffalo
The nearest ER is 35 miles from Buffalo
The closest emergency room is Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Sheridan, 34.9 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Heart disease, stroke and COPD run high in Buffalo
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 6.5% across Wyoming. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.3% across Wyoming. COPD is also above the state: 9.1%, vs 7% across Wyoming. In all, Buffalo runs above Wyoming on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (Wyoming 19%), and heart disease, stroke and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Buffalo, and more people treating it
36.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Wyoming 31.7%), but 77.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 73% statewide. Checkups ↓
Buffalo is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Buffalo is healthier than 43%. Against the 9,534 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 63%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Wyoming figure falls outside Buffalo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Buffalo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buffalo is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns, #21 of 28 in Wyoming. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 78% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 26%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Buffalo’s median household income is $62,629; among the 9,534 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 63%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Wyoming towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Buffalo is healthier than 26% of graded towns, against 43% nationally.
Care in and near Buffalo
1 hospital in Buffalo, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Buffalo; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Buffalo adults…
Buffalo runs above WY on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Buffalo is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wyoming. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Buffalo as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wyoming.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wyoming
Share of adults, with the Wyoming figure marked.
9.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Buffalo adults are doing
About the same as Wyoming on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.6% of Buffalo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.1% across Wyoming.
Buffalo and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | C+ | 36% | 13.1% | 15.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buffalo adults live with a disability (Wyoming 30.7%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Buffalo
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buffalo is better than Wyoming on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Wyoming figure falls inside Buffalo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Buffalo | WY | U.S. | vs WY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21%17.7–24.7 | 18.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.1–17.5 | 13.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.2–17.4 | 15.8% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36%28.8–44.3 | 33.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.1%11.1–15.3 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%32.5–41.3 | 31.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%34.2–43.5 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 30.4%26.9–34.4 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9–11.9 | 10.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%10–12.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.7–10 | 6.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%7.7–10.8 | 7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.8–4.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14–20.7 | 12.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%12.5–18.4 | 14% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.2%24.1–34.9 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%10.9–16.7 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2%25.4–37.6 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.1%9–13.7 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.1%66.9–75.6 | 69.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.6%56.8–64.5 | 62.7% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%81.6–86.2 | 82.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.1–80.9 | 73% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.3%52.6–63.9 | 59.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 62.8%53.6–71.6 | 67.8% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.1%16.8–23.9 | 21.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.6%16.5–22.9 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.5%10.1–12.9 | 9.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%8.8–11.4 | 9.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 6.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.4–7.9 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%7.4–10 | 6.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3%30.5–40.6 | 30.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%14.3–19.9 | 13.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%12.5–16.8 | 14.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.8–10.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.7–5 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Wyoming figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Buffalo
Is Buffalo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buffalo is healthier than 43% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #21 of 28 in Wyoming. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Buffalo?
CDC estimates 36% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 44.3%, against 33.7% across Wyoming and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Buffalo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–13.7%), against 11.6% across Wyoming.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Buffalo more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buffalo.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Wyoming figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.