Home inspection in Buffalo.

What we see in Buffalo homes.

Buffalo was platted in 1856 and named for Buffalo Lake, and it has been the Wright County seat since 1867, after Monticello held that role from 1856. The city covers 9.90 square miles, of which 2.14 are water, including Buffalo Lake and Lake Pulaski, and Highways 25 and 55 are the main routes into town. The 2020 census counted 16,168 residents, up from 15,453 in 2010. Older streets around the county-seat core and newer neighborhoods sit in the same city, and a sizable share of its area is water.

A city platted in 1856 has houses from many eras, so establishing the age comes first. In the older core, wiring, foundations, roofs, chimneys, and past additions are the common concerns. Near Buffalo Lake and Lake Pulaski, grading, foundation walls, sump pumps, and any retaining walls near the water deserve close attention. In newer subdivisions, attic ventilation, deck flashing, and settled grading are the usual concerns. Wright County is EPA Radon Zone 1, and the Minnesota Department of Health recommends every Minnesota home be tested.

Local facts checked September 2026 against: Wikipedia, courthouses.co.