Assisted Living Communities in Buffalo, Minnesota

Assisted Living costs in Buffalo start around $2,930 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of assisted living is $4,000 per month, according to the latest figures from Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey.

It’s important to note that assisted living rates in Buffalo and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Minnesota page.

Buffalo is located in the southeastern region of Minnesota and is home to the Buffalo Community Center, which provides social and recreational programs for adults aged 50 and over. The city has about 16,000 residents, nearly 15% of whom are seniors. 

Buffalo seniors who cannot live alone may reside in one of the region's six assisted living facilities, three of which are located within the city proper. While assisted living facilities in Buffalo and throughout Minnesota are not required to obtain licensing, they do have to register annually with the Minnesota Department of Health.

• Buffalo's overall crime rate is low relative to the national average, and only a small portion of the city's crimes are violent in nature, which may appeal to seniors seeking out a safe city for their retirement years. On a 100-point index, the city's violent crime rate is 8.7 and the property crime rate is 30.7, versus the respective national averages of 22.7 and 35.4.  
  
• Buffalo has a relatively cool climate. Summer highs are 4 degrees lower than the national average at 82 degrees, and winters are very cold with lows around 3 degrees, which is almost 20 degrees colder than the national average. Seniors may want to seek out an assisted living facility with individual climate control.  
  
• The overall cost of living in Buffalo is about 10% higher than the nationwide average and 4% higher than the statewide average, mainly due to high housing and transportation costs. This may drive up assisted living costs and be a concern for seniors with fixed incomes. 
  
• Buffalo seniors pay state income tax on all types of retirement income, including their Social Security benefits and public pension income. Minnesota also has a high sales tax rate. This may leave less money in the budget for local assisted living expenses.  
  
• The Buffalo area is home to world-class medical facilities, including Buffalo Hospital, in the event of medical emergencies or illness. 
  
• Note: Data reported on this page was updated in 2019 and based on the latest 2018 figures.