Buffalo County Health Data

Buffalo County, Wisconsin

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

88/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

81.7 yr

Uninsured Rate

6.4%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

81.7 yr

State avg 77.8 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

6.4%

State avg 7.0%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

23

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

15

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

14.7%

State avg 16.2%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

22.5

per 100K residentsCDC: 22.6 per 100K

Dentists

15.0

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Buffalo County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureBuffaloState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity39.4%38.9%37.6%near state average
Diabetes9.4%9.7%11.2%near state average
High Blood Pressure29.0%29.5%33.5%near state average
Depression25.4%24.6%24.1%0.8 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureBuffaloState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking15.4%15.5%16.3%near state average
Binge Drinking21.9%21.4%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity27.5%27.0%27.0%near state average

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureBuffaloState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup74.6%74.7%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)68.0%64.7%57.3%3.3 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)79.3%78.2%73.3%1.1 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureBuffaloState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress17.4%17.3%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration34.3%34.1%37.3%near state average

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Buffalo County nationally on dental visit (past year).

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Buffalo County Mental Health Provider Ratio Among Lowest in Region

Health data brief for Buffalo County, Wisconsin.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Mental health access

Buffalo County reports 15 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the national median of 250 per 100,000. The primary care provider ratio is also lower than national benchmarks, at 23 providers per 100,000 compared to the national median of 70. In contrast to these clinical provider figures, the county reports a life expectancy of 81.7 years, which is notably higher than the state average of 77.8 years and the national average of 77 years. The uninsured rate is 6.4%, falling below both the state average of 7.0% and the 10% national rate. Furthermore, 14.7% of residents report poor or fair health, a percentage that is lower than the national average of 17%. These metrics describe the local healthcare landscape and general longevity within Buffalo County. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Buffalo County, Wisconsin

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Hospitals near you

No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Buffalo County.

This is common in low-population rural counties. Residents typically travel to a hospital in a neighboring county or larger metro. Use Medicare.gov Care Compare to find rated hospitals statewide or contact a federally-funded community health center for primary and preventive care.

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Buffalo County, WI?
Buffalo County has a health score of 88/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #11 out of 72 counties in Wisconsin (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Buffalo County?
Life expectancy in Buffalo County is 81.7 years. The Wisconsin state average is 77.8 years, making Buffalo County above the state average.
How does Buffalo County health compare to the Wisconsin average?
Buffalo County's health score of 88/100 is above the Wisconsin average of 74/100. Life expectancy is 81.7 years vs. the state average of 77.8 years. The uninsured rate is 6.4% vs. 7.0% statewide.
What health factors affect Buffalo County?
Key health factors for Buffalo County include: life expectancy (81.7 years), uninsured rate (6.4%), and primary care physician access (23:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 15:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Buffalo County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 88/100 ("Excellent"), Buffalo County is one of the healthier counties in Wisconsin. Residents have a life expectancy of 81.7 years. 6.4% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Buffalo County healthier than the Wisconsin average?
Buffalo County's health score of 88/100 exceeds the Wisconsin average of 74/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors. Buffalo County has better primary care access (23:1 ratio) than the state average (65:1).

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.