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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Buffalo County, South Dakota

Buffalo County has an effective property tax rate of 0.40%. On the median home value of $117,800, that's roughly $473 per year. Median household income is $47,045.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
0.40%
median tax $473 ÷ median home $117,800
Median Home Value1
$117,800
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$47,045
per-capita $17,360
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$473
at 0.40% effective rate

What you'll pay, at a glance

Property taxes are the largest local tax most homeowners pay. The effective rate measures the real tax bill as a share of home value — a more useful number than the nominal “mill rate,” because assessment practices vary county to county.

MetricBuffalo CountySouth Dakota (state context)
Effective property tax rate10.40%1.01%
Median home value1$117,800—
State income tax3No state income taxNo state income tax
State sales tax36.11% combined6.11% combined

How this is calculated

The effective property tax rate is the median real-estate tax bill divided by the median home value — both for owner-occupied homes, from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year estimates)1. Median income is also from the ACS1. Federal and state income-tax figures use IRS2 and Tax Foundation3 data.

About Buffalo County, SD

Buffalo County offers one of South Dakota's most affordable entry points for homebuyers. With a median home value of $117,800, the median annual property tax bill comes to just $473, based on an effective rate of 0.402%. That rate sits well below the statewide median of 1.014% and the national figure of 0.794%, and it ranks 65th out of 66 South Dakota counties. Households here earn a median of $47,045, while per-capita income is $17,360. For buyers weighing where their money stretches furthest, the combination of low purchase prices and slim tax bills keeps yearly ownership costs down. Fort Thompson and Miller anchor the county, with Miller serving as its largest community. Anyone comparing housing costs across the state will find this county among the cheapest places to own a home.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Buffalo County, SD?
The effective rate is 0.40% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 0.40% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($117,800), the estimated annual bill is about $473.
Is Buffalo County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 1.01% and the national average near 1.1%.
How does the effective rate differ from my mill rate?
A mill rate is the nominal levy per $1,000 of assessed value. The effective rate reflects what you actually pay after exemptions and assessments — it's the median tax bill as a share of median home value, so it better predicts your real cost.
Will a reassessment raise my tax bill?
Not necessarily. If your home's assessed value rises, your bill can go up, but only if the mill rate and exemptions stay flat. Contact the Buffalo County assessor's office to review your current assessment.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment?
Yes. Most counties allow an appeal when you believe the assessed value exceeds the market value. File with the Buffalo County assessor within the local deadline, typically with comparable sales as evidence.
Sources
[1] U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year (2023) — Median home value (B25077), median real-estate taxes (B25103), median household income (B19013), per-capita income (B19301).
[2] IRS — Statistics of Income — County income, AGI, and real-estate taxes paid.
[3] Tax Foundation — State income, sales, corporate, and estate/inheritance tax rates.