Home Insurance in Buffalo, Missouri
The median home value in Buffalo is $141,800, 25% lower than the Dallas County median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in Buffalo was built around 1974. About 28% of homes were built before 1960, about 7 points above Dallas County's 21%.
Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy. The housing stock in Buffalo is 70% single-family homes, 2% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 3% mobile or manufactured homes. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
In Buffalo, about 65% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
About 45% of occupied homes in Buffalo are owner-occupied. The vacancy rate is 12%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy.
Homes heated with propane and wood can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. Most homes in Buffalo - 77% - are primarily heated with electricity.
FEMA rates Dallas County's overall risk as Very Low, led by wildfire (Relatively Low). Dallas County had 6 active NFIP flood policies as of September 2026. See the full Dallas County home insurance overview for all FEMA hazard ratings and flood coverage details.
In Missouri, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,589 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $141,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1974 |
| Owner-occupied share | 45% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 65% |
| Top county hazard | Wildfire (Relatively Low) |
| Active NFIP policies in Dallas County | 6 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,589 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Nearby towns
Sources
Data last updated: 2026-09-29
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)