County profile · Wisconsin
Buffalo County, WI market data
How Buffalo County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 13,318
- −0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 5,720
- Median household income
- $70,479
- +21.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $213,300
- Jobs located here
- 3,547
- Highest market score
- 70
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #345 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Buffalo County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Buffalo County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Buffalo County has an estimated 13,318 people and 5,720 households. Population estimates show Buffalo County declined 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Buffalo County is $70,479, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 21.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Buffalo County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 126, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (59).
Of the business types scored in Buffalo County, medical and dental practices (70); salons, barbers and spas (65); and auto repair shops (63) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #345 of 2,394 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet businesses (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (52% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Buffalo County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Buffalo County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 70 | #345 of 2,394 | 23 | 40.2 | $331K | 217 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 65 | #454 of 2,385 | 15 | 26.2 | $355K | 167 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 63 | #611 of 2,378 | 13 | 22.7 | $532K | 120 | 6 |
| Auto repair and car care | 62 | #675 of 2,401 | 25 | 43.7 | $276K | 103 | 7 |
| Real estate | 54 | #850 of 2,229 | 7 | 12.2 | Index only | 251 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 51 | #1,087 of 2,210 | 9 | 15.7 | $1.2M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 49 | #1,080 of 2,176 | 7 | 12.2 | Index only | 200 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 48 | #999 of 1,886 | 6 | 10.5 | $1.3M | 129 | 5 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 48 | #1,119 of 2,087 | 7 | 12.2 | $1.5M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 48 | #1,278 of 2,339 | 12 | 21.0 | $444K | 103 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 43 | #1,176 of 1,889 | 5 | 8.7 | $4.1M | 100 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 43 | #1,502 of 2,402 | 17 | 29.7 | $2M | 58 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 40 | #1,482 of 2,261 | 7 | 12.2 | $4.8M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 35 | #1,631 of 2,272 | 7 | 12.2 | $1.6M | 123 | 9 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 30 | #1,753 of 2,063 | 8 | 14.0 | $2.6M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 28 | #2,110 of 2,405 | 86 | 150.3 | $241K | 65 | 25 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 22 | #2,275 of 2,405 | 44 | 76.9 | $471K | 71 | 17 |
| Pet businesses | 19 | #2,131 of 2,200 | 12 | 21.0 | $372K | 42 | 5 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $1.9M | 80 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $247K | 36 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $4.5M | 187 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $3.6M | 149 | 14 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $1.1M | 44 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $1.9M | 79 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.0 | $1.1M | 41 | 5 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $11.1M | 120 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $4.8M | 101 | 10 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $6.9M | 136 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $983K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $3.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $2.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $14.5M | Too few | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $20.7M | Too few | 6 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $5.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $7.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Buffalo County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $6.9M | $1,208 | 126 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $17.8M | $3,115 | 120 |
| Food away from home | $20.7M | $3,624 | 89 |
| Groceries | $33.4M | $5,831 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.3M | $931 | 93 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2M | $344 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.4M | $763 | 78 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.6M | $1,331 | 103 |
| Pets | $4.5M | $781 | 86 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $10.5M | $1,833 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $10.9M | $1,897 | 97 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $14.5M | $2,531 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6.6M | $1,156 | 82 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $76.2M | $13,318 | 80 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Buffalo County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 13,318−0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 5,720
- Median age
- 46.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 676 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 20
- Median household income
- $70,479+21.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $85,332
- Median home value
- $213,300
- Jobs located here
- 3,547
- Daytime population
- 9,575Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Buffalo County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Buffalo County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Wisconsin 8
- Pepin County, WI7,431 people
- Trempealeau County, WI30,839 people
- Eau Claire County, WI107,116 people
- Dunn County, WI45,527 people
- Jackson County, WI20,981 people
- La Crosse County, WI120,488 people
- Chippewa County, WI66,799 people
- Pierce County, WI42,584 people
Questions
How fast is Buffalo County, WI growing?
Population estimates put Buffalo County at 13,318 people in 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,720 households. Median household income rose 21.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Buffalo County, WI spend?
Households in Buffalo County spend about $76.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $33.4M on groceries and $20.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Buffalo County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 126, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (59).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Buffalo County, WI?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Buffalo County are for medical and dental practices (70); salons, barbers and spas (65); and auto repair shops (63). Buffalo County ranks #345 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
How does Buffalo County, WI compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Buffalo County is $70,479 a year, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $213,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Buffalo County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet businesses (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (52% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 18 of the 56 business types have a score in Buffalo County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Buffalo County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Wisconsin · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Buffalo County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Buffalo County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.