Buffalo Center, IA

This city of 847 residents needs 90 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
847 (2026)
Households
501
Median household income
$57,031 (2026)
Typical home value
$155,502
Owner-occupied
64%
Five-year housing need
90 units

Comparison to other Iowa municipalities

Buffalo Center: $57,031 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$38K >$135K
Buffalo Center: None jobs to household ratio
<0.15 >2.25
Buffalo Center: No permit data
<0.1% >12.1%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Buffalo Center, IA, the typical home price of $155,502 is below the Iowa average of $204,515. Buffalo Center, IA's median household income of $57,031 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Buffalo Center, IA has roughly 501 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Buffalo Center, IA is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 80% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Buffalo Center, IA, with 64% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How does this place compare to similar communities?