Real Estate Investing in Buffalo, South Dakota (57720)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Harding County • Population: 561 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 57720 (Buffalo, SD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 28.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Buffalo, SD (57720)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $204,867
Avg Monthly Rent $855
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,031
% Renters 26.7%

Market Analysis: 57720 Buffalo

The 57720 ZIP covers a section of Buffalo that demands careful diligence. Prices near $205K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Put differently, the numbers look inviting — $205K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 57720 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 57720 and stronger Buffalo ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Meanwhile, 561 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. durable returns are possible in 57720, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 7.28% as of Oct 1 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Buffalo:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+17.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $855/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$210K$199K$188K$177K$166K$155KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 57720 Compare?

Metric 57720 Buffalo South Dakota
Home Value $204,867 $204,867 $311,504
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.8%
Avg Rent $855 $855 -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% -

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 57720 (Buffalo, SD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
★★★★★
Fair
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $204,867
Monthly Rent $855
Price-to-Rent 20.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +17.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 7.3%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (7.3%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
28.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 57720

Population: 561

💰 Median Household Income
$72,031
This area
$72,031
State
$68,422
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.7%
This area
26.7%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.5%
This area
26.5%
State
17.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.3 years
This area
46.3 years
State
31.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
28.4%
This area
28.4%
State
18.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.9%
Other/Mixed 14.2%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
👶 Under 18
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.3%
This area
20.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 57720

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
11.3:1 Avg Class Size
$19,801 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Harding County Middle School - 03

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
58 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,801 Per Student
B Good

Buffalo Elementary - 02

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
101 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,801 Per Student
B Good

Harding County High School - 01

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
62 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,801 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Buffalo, SD for real estate investors?

Buffalo, SD scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $205K and rents near $855/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is the average home sale price in Buffalo, SD?

Expect median prices around $205K in Buffalo, SD. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

What do rentals go for in Buffalo, SD?

Average rent in Buffalo, SD is approximately $855/mo per month. Against $205K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What strategy should investors use in Buffalo, SD?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Buffalo, SD best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $205K price point.

Does house hacking work in Buffalo, SD?

House hacking in Buffalo, SD is reasonable to execute. Prices around $205K and rents of $855/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 57720 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 57720 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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