Buffalo County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Buffalo County, Wisconsin had an estimated 13,464 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 13,314, across 672 square miles. County output reached $730.9 m in 2024, 312 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 14 7(a) approvals worth $3.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Buffalo County
How many people live in Buffalo County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202413,393
- Households5,720
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$70,479
- Median age46.5
- Median gross rent$876 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$213,300
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over9,849
- Population under 182,668
- Share under 1819.9 percent
- Population 65 and over3,218
- Share 65 and over24.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 647,507
- Civilian labor force6,980
- Unemployment rate2.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.1 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties67th of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2262nd of 3,222
Buffalo County is the 67th largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.0 percent against 19.9 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Buffalo County
Is Buffalo County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202413,464
- Census 2020 base population13,314
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.13 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202424
- Births, 2024129
- Deaths, 2024104
- Natural change, 202425
- Net domestic migration, 2024-2
- Net international migration, 20240
- Total net migration, 2024-2
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024119
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1435th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.13 percent since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 by more than net migration took away, so the population grew even though more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Buffalo County
Where are people moving to Buffalo County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving337
- People arriving, from those returns561
- Tax returns filed by households leaving310
- Net household movement27
- Adjusted gross income arriving$17.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$2.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$52,617
- Average income of a leaving household$50,532
- Largest single originTrempealeau County (43 households)
- Largest single destinationEau Claire County (60 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trempealeau County | 43 | 70 | $2.1 m |
| Winona County | 40 | 58 | $2.0 m |
| Eau Claire County | 38 | 73 | $2.0 m |
| Pepin County | 22 | 44 | $1.1 m |
| Dunn County | 21 | 32 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $2,085 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Trempealeau County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Buffalo County
What is the Buffalo County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$730.9 m
- County GDP, 2023$728.3 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.4 percent
- GDP change over five years31.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Wisconsin areas BEA publishes64th of 72
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2101st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$54,577
Output grew 0.4 percent in the latest year and 31.7 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Buffalo County
Employment by industry in Buffalo County
- Covered employment, annual average3,616
- Establishments reporting401
- Average annual pay$46,517
- Average weekly wage$895
- Transportation and warehousing, employment516
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$69,200
- Manufacturing, employment323
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$49,737
- Accommodation and food services, employment306
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$13,203
- Retail trade, employment296
- Retail trade, average annual pay$23,838
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment253
- Finance and insurance, employment142
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation and warehousing | 516 | 23 | $69,200 |
| Manufacturing | 323 | 20 | $49,737 |
| Accommodation and food services | 306 | 45 | $13,203 |
| Retail trade | 296 | 33 | $23,838 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 253 | 30 | $39,492 |
| Finance and insurance | 142 | 18 | $59,384 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 140 | 10 | $50,647 |
| Construction | 135 | 40 | $49,120 |
Transportation and warehousing is the largest private sector at 516 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Buffalo County
How many businesses are in Buffalo County?
- Establishments, all industries312
- Employment at those establishments2,922
- Annual payroll$148.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Buffalo County
Building permits in Buffalo County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202455
- Declared construction value permitted$17.3 m
- Single family units authorized49
- Multifamily units authorized6
- Multifamily share of units10.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$313,975
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.6
Single-family homes are 89.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Buffalo County
SBA loans in Buffalo County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded14
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$3.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$252,071
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- Largest single approval$1,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)86
- Jobs per approval6.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals10
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter11
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLogging (4)
- Most active lenderHiawatha National Bank (3)
- 504 approvals recorded7
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.4 m
- Average 504 approval$491,714
- Median 504 approval$417,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.2
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$7.0 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buffalo County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Buffalo County
Do SBA loans in Buffalo County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure9
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buffalo County
SBA lending by place in Buffalo County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Mondovi, approvals10
- Fountain City, approvals2
- Nelson, approvals1
- Alma, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Mondovi | 10 | $2,334,000 |
| Fountain City | 2 | $1,070,000 |
| Nelson | 1 | $75,000 |
| Alma | 1 | $50,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buffalo County
How large is Buffalo County?
- Land area672 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties42nd of 72
- Width, east to west27.5 mi
- Height, north to south39.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land20
- Establishments per square mile0.46
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Buffalo County
Flood risk in Buffalo County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Buffalo County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 555547
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate85.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Buffalo County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Buffalo County (community 555547), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Buffalo County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 85.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Buffalo County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Buffalo County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202413,393
- Households5,720
- Average household size2.34
- Median household income$70,479
- Median age46.5
Common questions
Buffalo County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Buffalo County, Wisconsin?
The Census Bureau estimates 13,464 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 13,393, in 5,720 households, ranking 67th of 72 Wisconsin counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Buffalo County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.13 percent since the 2020 census base of 13,314, to 13,464 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 129 births against 104 deaths, with net migration of -2. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Buffalo County?
$70,479. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $213,300, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $876 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Buffalo County?
312 establishments, employing 2,922 people with an annual payroll of $148.4 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Buffalo County?
Transportation and warehousing is the largest private sector at 516 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 3,616 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,517, or $895 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Buffalo County?
14 7(a) approvals totaling $3.5 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 7 504 approvals worth $3.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Buffalo County?
55 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $17.3 m. Multifamily was 10.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Buffalo County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Buffalo County come from?
The largest single origin is Trempealeau County, with 43 households. Arriving households report an average income of $52,617 against $50,532 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Buffalo County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Buffalo County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Buffalo County
Cities and places in Buffalo.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Buffalo County. All 8 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mondovi | city | 2,872 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Buffalo City | city | 902 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fountain City | city | 835 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Alma | city | 788 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Cochrane | village | 516 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nelson | village | 381 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Gilmanton | CDP | 148 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Waumandee | CDP | 81 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby