Home Insurance in Buffalo County, South Dakota
Homes in Buffalo County carry a median value of $117,800 - 54% lower than the South Dakota median.
Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. The typical home in Buffalo County was built around 1976. About 12% of homes were built before 1960, about 16 points below South Dakota's 28%.
The housing stock in Buffalo County is 69% single-family homes, 7% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 22% mobile or manufactured homes. Mobile and manufactured homes typically need a manufactured-home (HO-7) policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.
In Buffalo County, about 4% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 12%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 53% of occupied homes in Buffalo County are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. In Buffalo County, 73% of homes are primarily heated with propane.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Buffalo County's top hazards are wildfire (Relatively Low), winter weather (Relatively Low) and strong wind (Relatively Low).
Buffalo County has no active NFIP flood policies on file. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in South Dakota is $1,614 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $117,800 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1976 |
| Owner-occupied share | 53% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 4% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Wildfire (Relatively Low), Winter Weather (Relatively Low), Strong Wind (Relatively Low) |
| Home insurance premium | $1,614 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Sources
- 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)