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IA area data

Buffalo, IA

Buffalo, IA.

Population: 984 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Buffalo, IA is $161,953 — up 2.5% over the past year. 1 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with hail, icestorm, lightning the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.2% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$161,953

Median home value

+2.5%

1-year change

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$161,953
1-year appreciation
+2.5%
3-year appreciation
+11.3%
5-year appreciation
+20.2%
10-year appreciation
+61.6%
All-time peak (2026-02)
$163,224
House Price Index (state)
386.7 (+2.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median list price
$235,000
1-year forecast
+3.1%

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$787/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$852/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,056/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,396/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,697/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
87.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
1
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
0
High schools
0
Avg student-teacher ratio
12.1 : 1
Schools include
Buffalo Elementary School

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
hail, iceStorm, lightning, strongWind, winterWeather
Notable hazard ratings (county)
hail: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Moderate · tornado: Relatively Moderate · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively High
FEMA flood zone
AE
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 31% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
14.6%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
50.0°F
Average high
61.0°F
Average low
40.0°F
Annual precipitation
39.1 in
Annual snowfall
21.8 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
46
Days with Good air quality
215
Days with Moderate air quality
148
Days with Unhealthy air quality
1
Highest AQI recorded (year)
159

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
6.3 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
20,977
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
19,883

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (35 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
16
Nearest airport
Village Oaks Airport (2 mi)
Nearest major airport
Quad City International Airport (MLI) (12 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
12
Hospitals include
ST MARY MEDICAL CENTER, GENESIS HLTH SYSTEM DBA GENESIS MDL CTR-ILLINI, TRINITY ROCK ISLAND
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-193 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,958
Housing built before 1970
72.3%
Housing built 2000 or later
4.6%
Median annual property tax
$2,067
Households with broadband internet
58.0%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
84,134
Average weekly wage
$1,209
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
372

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

BuffaloState medianUS median
Median home value$161,953$211,043$288,527
Median annual property tax$2,067$1,927$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Buffalo, IA?
$161,953.
What is typical rent in Buffalo, IA?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,056/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Buffalo, IA?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: hail, iceStorm, lightning, strongWind, winterWeather.
Is Buffalo, IA in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone AE.
What is the wildfire risk in Buffalo, IA?
Risk to homes is higher than 31% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Buffalo, IA?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Buffalo, IA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Buffalo, IA?
1 schools (1 elementary) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Buffalo, IA walkable?
Walkability index: 6.3/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Buffalo, IA?
Good. Median AQI: 46. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Buffalo, IA?
Regional Price Parity: 87.8 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Buffalo

Listing a home in Buffalo, IA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents