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Buffalo County, SD
2 cities and towns and 2 ZIP codes in Buffalo County, South Dakota.
Population
1,808
Land area
471sq mi
People per sq mi
4
ZIP codes
2
Cities and towns in Buffalo County
Buffalo County at a glance
- Buffalo County is 68% less dense than South Dakota as a whole.
- The median household income is $47,045, 37% below the South Dakota median of $75,081.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $117,800 (54% below South Dakota) and median rent is $540 a month.
- Its largest cities are Fort Thompson (1,147) and Gann Valley (6).
Local data for Buffalo County, SD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Buffalo County, SD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$47,045
Poverty rate
33.9%
Median home value
$117,800
Median rent
$540/mo
Homeownership
52.6%
Bachelor's or higher
9.9%
Median age
22.8
Average commute
13.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (131), Norwegian Americans (43), French Americans (20).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Sep 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,513
530 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$34,242
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$47.7M
FY 2026, $24,466 per person
PPP loans
$1.7M
50 loans, 250 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$385
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Buffalo County, SD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.2%
- Carpooled0.5%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.6%
- Worked from home12.3%
Average one-way commute: 13.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Buffalo County, SD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
390
Most often high wind
July high / Jan low
87° / 6°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Buffalo County, SD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
48.5%
U.S. 33.3% +15.2 pts
Diabetes
17.5%
U.S. 12.1% +5.4 pts
Smoking
31.7%
U.S. 12.8% +18.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
14.6%
U.S. 11.1% +3.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Buffalo County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Buffalo County, SD?
- Fort Thompson is the largest city or town in Buffalo County, with about 1,147 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Buffalo County?
- Buffalo County includes 2 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 57339, 57341.
- What is the population of Buffalo County, SD?
- About 1,808 people live in Buffalo County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Buffalo County?
- Buffalo County borders Brule County, Lyman County, Hand County, Jerauld County, Hyde County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023