Buffalo

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Buffalo, MN Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,127

Population

17,356

Renter Mix

26% Rent

Small-town coziness with a quirky personality

Suburb Commuter Rural Safe Low Crime Lake Arts

Buffalo is a small city positioned about forty miles northwest of Minneapolis. The Downtown district on the shore of Buffalo Lake is a vibrant slice of timeless Americana, and serves as the headquarters of an active arts scene that includes the Buffalo Community Theater and the Buffalo Community Orchestra. The surrounding lakes and forests provide endless opportunities for spending quality time outdoors, including boating, fishing, and hiking. The central portion of town between Buffalo Lake, Lake Pulaski, and Mary Lake features a heavy concentration of shopping centers and restaurants, while more outlying portions of the city are generally covered by more tranquil residential neighborhoods.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$86,354

Average: $100,527

Education

3,886

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

8,993

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

40 Years

Largest Age Group

10-19 Years

Approximately 14% of Residents

Under 20

26%

Over 65

18%

Housing Distribution

Buffalo has more homeowners than renters.

Renters
26%
Non-Renters
74%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
20%
Other Education
80%

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Buffalo, MN is $1,011 for a studio, $1,129 for one bedroom, $1,305 for two bedrooms, and $1,509 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Buffalo has increased by 5.3% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,129/month
761 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Buffalo, MN

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

40 / 100

Schools

Northwinds Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

437 Students

Discovery Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

224 Students

Tatanka Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

452 Students

Parkside Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

362 Students

Eastern Wright Program

Public

Grades K-8

4 Students

Buffalo Community Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,142 Students

Cornerstones Program

Public

Grades 6-12

21 Students

Eastern Wright Program

Public

Grades K-8

4 Students

Extended School Year Program

Public

Grades K-12

Buffalo Senior High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,818 Students

Phoenix Learning Center

Public

Grades 9-12

Cornerstones Program

Public

Grades 6-12

21 Students

Wright Technical Center

Public

Grades 9-12

Extended School Year Program

Public

Grades K-12

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Buffalo

Houses for Rent in Buffalo

Search Nearby Rentals

Nearby Neighborhood Rentals

Nearby City Guides

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.