2004 · Art Alley P7310031 · Wikimedia Commons
New Buffalo’s story
New Buffalo in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
New BuffaloMI
A town of 1,338. A regional job hub with 863 jobs.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: TCP04 · CC BY 4.0
Population
1,338
−9.3% since 2010
Median home value
$391K
Census ACS
Household income
$65K
median
Median age
54.5
years
Jobs based here
863
A job hub
What makes New Buffalo stand out
The 3 things New Buffalo does most differently from other towns.
Small town
1,338 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
New BuffaloNew Buffalo
New Buffalo’s report card
Now in New Buffalo
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in New Buffalo? Is an A for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in New Buffalo’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →50°
Fog/Mist
H 72° · L 59°
Local news
All →- Trap Stars special land use permit revoked; Dispensary still openHarbor Country News · Aug 27
- Things to Do in New Buffalo, MI: 15 Local Picks (2026)deeparrival.com · Aug 12
- Sip, savor and stay awhile at Hummingbird Lounge in New BuffaloChicago Star Media · Jul 18
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in New Buffalo. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in six working residents works right in New Buffalo
Most working residents leave New Buffalo for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are New Buffalo (11%), Grand Rapids (8%) and Michigan City (5%). Half commute less than 26 miles.
17%work in town
Where working residents work
In New Buffalo17%
New Buffalo11%
Grand Rapids8%
Michigan City5%
South Bend3%
26 mi
median commute distance
863
jobs based in New Buffalo
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
New Buffalo’s public schools outperform 89% of Michigan districts
The public schools New Buffalo’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 89% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Buffalo Middle School | 6–8 | 133 | A |
| New Buffalo Senior High School | 9–12 | 172 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 23% of U.S. communities.
23risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Health
Healthier than 71% of U.S. towns
New Buffalo beats the Michigan average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
B+Health Grade
32 measures vs. Michigan
11 better19 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | New Buffalo | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.6% | 15.4% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.5% | 11.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.9% | 8.9% |
Franciscan Health Michigan City
9.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
82nd
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
New Buffalo has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 19°, and about 65 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
65″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–35°
Spring39–58°
Summer61–81°
Fall44–62°
Oct 27
typical first frost
Apr 19
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 62% of U.S. towns
New Buffalo reports less crime per resident than 62% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
BSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
New Buffalo6.5
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
New Buffalo4.7
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
62nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
61st
percentile among MI towns
11
violent crimes reported in 2025
8
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Outdoors
10.9% of New Buffalo is conserved land
4.0 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves.
10.9%conserved
10.9%
conserved · 173 of 1,581 acres
4.0 mi
of trails · 1.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. New Buffalo City Park | 1 mi | 21 |
| 2. Louis J. Sima Great Lakes Marsh | — | 143 |
| 3. Merganser Point | — | 10 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Housing
Homes in New Buffalo sell for about $575K
The median sale price was $575,000 in May 2026.
$575Kmedian sale price
Market temperature
43
days on market
96.7%
sale-to-list price
11
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A job hub
Every workday, about 775 people come to New Buffalo for work
Where New Buffalo’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
863jobs based in New Buffalo
17%of working residents work in town
26 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About New Buffalo
City in Michigan, United States
New Buffalo is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,708 during the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,708
- Area
- 2.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 640 ft
- ZIP code
- 49117
- Area code
- 269
More about New Buffalo
Still missing for New Buffalo:upcoming events