2011 · Buffalo, TX, Auction Barn IMG 2296 · Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo’s story
154 years in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1872Buffalo is settled
- 2011Buffalo, TX, Auction Barn IMG 2296
BuffaloTX
A town of 1,652, settled in 1872. A regional job hub with 1,240 jobs.
Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,652
−4.8% since 2010
Typical home
$291K
+1.7% in a year
Household income
$45K
median
Median age
40.7
years
Jobs based here
1,240
A job hub
What makes Buffalo stand out
The 3 things Buffalo does most differently from other towns.
A job hub
Every workday, about 1,146 people come to Buffalo for work
Where Buffalo’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,240jobs based in Buffalo
15%of working residents work in town
65 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Buffalo’s report card
Now in Buffalo
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Buffalo? Is a D for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Buffalo’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Buffalo. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in seven working residents works right in Buffalo
Most working residents leave Buffalo for work: only 15% work in town. The top destinations are Houston (12%), Austin (5%) and Centerville (3%). Half commute less than 65 miles.
15%work in town
Where working residents work
In Buffalo15%
Houston12%
Austin5%
Centerville3%
Huntsville3%
65 mi
median commute distance
1,240
jobs based in Buffalo
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
Healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Buffalo beats the Texas average on 0 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 16.
DHealth Grade
26 measures vs. Texas
0 better10 too close to call16 worse
| What stands out | Buffalo | TX |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 22.5% | 12.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.3% | 5.7% |
| More smokers | 18.4% | 12.5% |
Freestone Medical Center
19.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
11th
percentile among TX towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Buffalo’s public schools outperform 75% of Texas districts
The public schools Buffalo’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 75% of Texas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
A−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo El | PK–2 | 270 | Not graded |
| Buffalo J H | 3–8 | 414 | B+ |
| Buffalo H S | 9–12 | 304 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduationAll 3 schools →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 34% of U.S. towns
Buffalo reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 66% report less.
CSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Buffalo1.6
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Buffalo11.4
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
34th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
34th
percentile among TX towns
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
22
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Buffalo has mild winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 94°, a January night drops to 37°, and snow is almost unheard of.
95°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter38–61°
Spring55–77°
Summer72–93°
Fall55–79°
Nov 12
typical first frost
Mar 20
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
95°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 34% of U.S. communities.
34risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
A typical Buffalo home is worth about $291K
The typical Buffalo home is worth about $291,000, up 1.7% in a year, close to the Texas typical home.
$291KZillow home value
Typical home value
Buffalo$291K
Texas$299K
+1.7%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Famous people from Buffalo
4 notable people were born in Buffalo.
About Buffalo
City in Texas, United States
Buffalo is a city in Leon County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,767 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1872
- Population
- 1,767
- Area
- 4.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 384 ft
- ZIP code
- 75831
- Area code
- 903
More about Buffalo
Still missing for Buffalo:local news coverageupcoming events