The Town FilesBuffalo, Missouri
City in Dallas County · population 3,290 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,800
- Household income
- $39,896
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 41.9
Buffalo is a city of 3,290 people in Dallas County, Missouri. The median home is worth $141,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Missouri towns, better for retirees than 88% of Missouri towns.
How Buffalo ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Buffalo is worth $141,800, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $39,896, which is more affordable than 15% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $627 a month. 44.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buffalo | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,800 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $627 | $855 |
| Median household income | $39,896 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 44.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Buffalo
| People | Buffalo | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.3% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 33.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Buffalo
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 28, 2012 about 2.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 26, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 2,784 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $35,760 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Buffalo itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Buffalo
4 public schools with 1,723 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MALLORY ELEM. | PK-4 | 719 | 14.1 |
| BUFFALO HIGH | 9-12 | 522 | 14.5 |
| BUFFALO MIDDLE | 5-8 | 482 | 12.4 |
| DALLAS COUNTY TECHNICAL CENTER | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Buffalo
- Bolivar, MO17.7 mi · 10,679 people · home $201,600
- Marshfield, MO23.3 mi · 7,458 people · home $204,700
- Lebanon, MO24.0 mi · 15,013 people · home $158,800
- Strafford, MO26.0 mi · 2,561 people · home $169,400
Buffalo questions
Is Buffalo, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buffalo scores better for retirees than 88% of Missouri towns and quieter than 66%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Buffalo?
The median owner-occupied home in Buffalo is valued at $141,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,896, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $627 a month.
What is the weather like in Buffalo?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 9.0 inches of snow.
Does Buffalo get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buffalo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 28, 2012. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)