Buffalo, MN

Census place 2708452 · pop 16,499

C63/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in MN
📍 Minnesota ranks #5 of 50 states →
🏆 Property crime421/100k · top 14%
🚽 Commute26 min · bottom 33%
Taxes
1.11% property · US 0.99%8.14% sales · US 7.00%up to 9.85% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Commute time26 min33

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

26 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Adult obesity36.2%42

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

36.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Population growth (5yr)+1.8%42

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Property-tax burden1.11%43

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.11% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Housing cost$314,40044

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$314,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Adult smoking13.8%45

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

13.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level3 days46

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

3 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher32.0%54

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

32.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Broadband access92.8%60

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Air quality (AQI)County-level41 AQI62

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

41 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poverty rate8.9%63

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

8.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level80/10063

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

80/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Median household income$88,82066

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$88,820 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Physical inactivity22.2%66

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

22.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Rent$1,509/mo68

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,509/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Poor mental health15.8%69

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Uninsured adults7.3%73

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

7.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Homeownership74.3%76

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

74.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.0%79

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Violent crime rate54/100k84

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

54 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Income inequality0.3985

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.39 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Property crime rate421/100k86

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

421 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Frequently asked

Is Buffalo, MN a good place to live?
By the numbers, Buffalo scores 63/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property crime rate and its weakest is commute time. Minnesota overall ranks #5 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Buffalo, MN?
Buffalo reports 54 violent crimes per 100k and 421 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Buffalo, MN expensive to live in?
Buffalo has a median home value of $314,400 and typical rent around $1,509/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Buffalo, MN?
Its weakest measured area is commute time (26 min) — 33/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Buffalo, MN best at?
Its strongest measured area is property crime rate (421/100k) — 86/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.