John McGrath House · National Register of Historic Places
Buffalo’s story
Buffalo in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →BuffaloIL
A town of 2,648. Public schools that outperform most of Illinois.
Population
2,648
−4.3% since 2010
Median home value
$117K
Census ACS
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
34.4
years
Jobs based here
588
A commuter town
What makes Buffalo stand out
The 2 things Buffalo does most differently from other towns.
A commuter town
89% of working residents leave Buffalo for work
Where Buffalo’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
588jobs based in Buffalo
11%of working residents work in town
15 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Buffalo’s report card
Now in Buffalo
What neighbors are saying. Town Square →
Residents weigh in
Buffalo is #814 of 820 in IL for “Longest growing season”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Buffalo’s Town Square.
TT Weaver · 1w · Town talk
Fall in Buffalo Township
As the weather starts to cool down, with lows in the 50s and highs in the 60s, it feels like a great time to get outside and enjoy…
Or start one of these
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Buffalo. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Buffalo’s public schools outperform 70% of Illinois districts
The public schools Buffalo’s kids attend outperform 70% of Illinois’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial Elem School | PK–5 | 294 | B+ |
| Aplington Middle School | 6–8 | 114 | A− |
| Polo Comm High School | 9–12 | 186 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IL on state testsAll 3 schools →
Work & commute
About one in nine working residents works right in Buffalo
Most working residents leave Buffalo for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Dixon (15%), Polo (10%) and Sterling (8%). Half commute less than 15 miles.
11%work in town
Where working residents work
In Buffalo11%
Dixon15%
Polo10%
Sterling8%
Chicago5%
15 mi
median commute distance
588
jobs based in Buffalo
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 25% of U.S. communities.
25risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
31
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Buffalo has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
31″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–32°
Spring38–59°
Summer60–82°
Fall41–62°
Oct 7
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
Healthier than 35% of U.S. towns
Buffalo beats the Illinois average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
CHealth Grade
32 measures vs. Illinois
3 better20 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Buffalo | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.7% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.8% | 13.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.3% | 6.3% |
Osf Saint Katharine Medical Center
10.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
22nd
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
0% of Buffalo is conserved land
1.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 21,431 acres
1.5 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Westside Park | — | 10 |
| 2. Polo Community Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Landmarks
2 places in Buffalo on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Buffalo
Township in Illinois, United States
Buffalo Township is one of twenty-four townships in Ogle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,813 and it contained 1,284 housing units.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 2,692
- Area
- 34 sq mi
- Elevation
- 863 ft
Buffalo’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Buffalo.