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Cost of living, pay and housing

33.54° N · 101.70° W · GEOID 4811155

Buffalo Springs Lake

Lubbock County, Texas · part of the Lubbock, TX metro

Limited data population under 5,000

TexasBuffalo Springs Lake, TXBuffalo Springs LakeBuffalo Springs Lake

The short answer

Buffalo Springs Lake is home to 571 people. Median household income is $101,667 a year and median rent is $2,096 a month, 24.7% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $239,500, about 2.4x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$2,096
54% above the median place
Median household income
$101,667
27% above the median place
Median home value
$239,500
25% below the median place
Unemployment
0.0%
below the median place (median 4.9%)

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Buffalo Springs Lake

  • Between the 2019 and 2020 surveys, household income rose 10.6% a year while rent rose -0.9%, so pay gained on rent more than in 98% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the 3rd-lowest of 415 Texas places.
  • Owning with a mortgage costs about $541 a month less than the median rent, which is rarer than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 413 Texas places.
  • 99% of homes are owner-occupied, more than in 99% of places its size. It is the highest of 415 Texas places.
  • Unemployment averaged 0.0% over the survey period, lower than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 295 Texas places.
  • 40% of homes stand vacant, more than in 97% of places its size. It is the highest of 339 Texas places.
01

Moving to Buffalo Springs Lake

Lubbock County gains about 2.5 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in13,579
Moved out12,970
Net+609

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Dallas County, TX354489−135
Midland County, TX394324+70
Bexar County, TX291332−41

Within Texas, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within TexasOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$59K
Leavers$60K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Lubbock County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
8.6% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 0.0% from another state. County figure.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Lubbock County report $58,800 a year in income on average; those leaving, $59,600.
Income you would need
$83,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $2,096 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,555 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $239,500.
Getting to work
26 minutes each way on average; 7.1% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
White Horse, NJ matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
0.0%
below the median place (median 2.0%)
Moved here in the past year1
8.6%
50% above the median place
Income of households moving in7
$58,797
17% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureBuffalo Springs LakeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure8.6%50% above
Moved from another state10.0%below (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure2.5above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$58,79717% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$59,63215% below
02

What it costs to live here

Homeownership is 99.2%, 49% above the median place.

Buffalo Springs Lake24.7%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$83,840
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
24.7%
21% above the median place
Home price to income
2.4x
38% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
25%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$81,400
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Buffalo Springs Lake, $2,096 a month, and local prices for everything else (94.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Buffalo Springs Lake.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Buffalo Springs Lake? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
99.2%
49% above the median place
Vacant homes1
40.0%
above the median place (median 7.1%)
Median year built1
1961
1% below the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureBuffalo Springs LakeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$2,09654% above
Rent to income124.7%21% above
Property tax rate11.1%26% above
Home price to income12.4x38% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure91.39% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,24123% below
Property tax paid (median)1$2,74516% below
Median home value1$239,50025% below
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure1.3%60% below
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure34.5%33% below
Homeownership199.2%49% above
Renters paying 30%+1County figure54.4%8% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,55517% below
Vacant homes140.0%above (median 7.1%)
Median year built119611% below
03

Work and pay

Unemployment is 0.0%, below the median place (median 4.9%).

Unemployment1
0.0%
below the median place (median 4.9%)
Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Works from home1
7.1%
43% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Median household income$101,667 +27%
Income per person$47,444 +18%
Mean commute26 min +4%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureBuffalo Springs LakeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$101,66727% above
Income per person1$47,44418% above
Unemployment10.0%below (median 4.9%)
Average annual pay5County figure$56,58314% below
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure3.9%5% above
Jobs5County figure153,4822% above
Poverty rate1County figure17.1%59% above
Mean commute126 min4% above
Works from home17.1%43% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Population change since 2020 is -4.7%, below the median place (median 1.1%).

Population change since 20206
-4.7%
below the median place (median 1.1%)
Homes with broadband1
97.2%
5% above the median place
High school or higher1
96.6%
5% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Median age42.8 +10%
Household size2.3 −8%
Bachelor's or higher32.3% +1%
All 9 people measures
MeasureBuffalo Springs LakeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15716646th largest
Population change since 20206-4.7%below (median 1.1%)
Median age142.810% above
Bachelor's or higher132.3%1% above
High school or higher196.6%5% above
Household size12.38% below
Born abroad1County figure6.1%31% below
No health insurance1County figure13.9%117% above
Homes with broadband197.2%5% above
05

Life in Buffalo Springs Lake

20 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of them a National Historic Landmark.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars21.9 +5%
Shops33.8 +12%
Arts, recreation and fitness3.6 −12%
Doctors' offices and clinics21.9 +8%
Child care centers2.3 +0%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public schools10
101
above the median place (median 9)
Public school students10
52,197
above the median place (median 4,897)
Shops per 10k8
33.8
12% above the median place
All 9 schools and local life measures
MeasureBuffalo Springs LakeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools10County figure101above (median 9)
Public school students10County figure52,197above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher10County figure14.09% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure21.95% above
Shops per 10k8County figure33.812% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure3.612% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure21.98% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.30% above
National Register listings9County figure2054% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Median air quality index is 24, 44% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Buffalo Springs Lake. Larger places are fetched first.

Median air quality index13
24
44% below the median place
Good air days13
92.9%
36% above the median place
Tornado risk12
98.8
21% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureBuffalo Springs LakeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high11County figure93°F7% above
January average low11County figure27°F8% above
Average temperature11County figure61°F11% above
Annual precipitation11County figure19.0 in57% below
Natural hazard risk12County figure96.34% above
Hurricane risk12County figure47.233% below
Tornado risk12County figure98.821% above
Wildfire risk12County figure86.241% above
Heat wave risk12County figure80.611% below
Median air quality index13County figure2444% below
Good air days13County figure92.9%36% above
08

Buffalo Springs Lake in 2030: where the trends point

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median household income$101,667 (2024)$129,000$109,000 to $153,000+4.1%
Median home value$239,500 (2024)$342,000$248,000 to $471,000+6.1%
Population445 (2025)440420 to 460−0.3%

The median home would be worth 2.6 years of the median income in 2030, against 2.4 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Buffalo Springs Lake

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
White Horse, NJ$2,046$105,758Compare
St. Paul Park, MN$2,174$100,642Compare
Asbury Lake, FL$2,172$100,949Compare
Oakland, TN$1,992$97,798Compare
Oakland, TNAsbury Lake, FLSt. Paul Park, MNWhite Horse, NJBuffalo Springs Lake, TXBuffalo Springs LakeWhite HorseSt. Paul ParkAsbury LakeOaklandBuffalo Springs LakeWhite HorseSt. Paul ParkAsbury LakeOakland

Common questions

Is Buffalo Springs Lake a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Between the 2019 and 2020 surveys, household income rose 10.6% a year while rent rose -0.9%, so pay gained on rent more than in 98% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the 3rd-lowest of 415 Texas places. Owning with a mortgage costs about $541 a month less than the median rent, which is rarer than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 413 Texas places. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Buffalo Springs Lake expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 24.7% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $239,500.

What salary do you need to live in Buffalo Springs Lake?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $83,840 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Buffalo Springs Lake?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are White Horse, NJ, St. Paul Park, MN, Asbury Lake, FL and Oakland, TN.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  10. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  11. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  12. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  13. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Buffalo Springs Lake with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Buffalo Springs Lake itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/buffalo-springs-lake-texas

Citytistics. “Buffalo Springs Lake, Texas.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/buffalo-springs-lake-texas/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.