Buffalo property tax: where it goes
A Buffalo house pays 1.523% of its taxable value in property tax. For a house at $336,300 of value before exemptions with the homestead exemption, that's about $4,023 a year.
Tax is levied on for a residential homestead (class 1a): estimated market value, less the homestead market value exclusion, times the class rate (1.00% on the first $500,000, 1.25% above) gives tax capacity; school referendum levies are a separate rate on referendum market value.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $336,300 |
|---|---|---|
| Wright County | 0.3519% | $1,126 |
| City of Buffalo | 0.5182% | $1,658 |
| ISD 877 schools, on tax capacity (schools) | 0.2084% | $667 |
| Buffalo HRA (special taxing district), on tax capacity | 0.0173% | $55 |
| ISD 877 schools, referendum levies on market value (schools) | 0.1535% | $516 |
| Higher 1.25% class rate on taxable market value above $500,000 (all tax-capacity levies) | 0.2739% | $0 |
| Total | 1.523% | $4,023 |
2026 taxes payable, Wright County (Buffalo tax district 301, ISD 877). Exemptions applied: Homestead market value exclusion ($16,283); For class 1a residential homestead property, the 1.25% class rate applies only to market value above $500,000 ($500,000).
Ways to pay less
- Apply for homestead by December 31. If you move into a home and apply by December 31, you may qualify for homestead classification for the next year's taxes. The homestead market value exclusion is 40% of value for homesteads valued at $95,000 or less (a maximum of $38,000), is reduced as values rise, and phases out at $517,200 or more. How: Apply with the Wright County Assessor; once homestead is granted, there is no need to apply again as long as the property is owned by the same party.
- Claim the Minnesota property tax refund. Minnesota homeowners may get a Property Tax Refund based on income and property taxes. How: File with the Minnesota Department of Revenue by August 15 (you may file up to one year late).
- Seniors 65+: defer part of your property tax. With the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral, the tax you pay is 3% of household income and the state pays the rest as a loan, repaid with interest when you sell or cancel. How: You must be 65 or older (if married, the other spouse at least 62) with household income of $96,000 or less; apply by November 1.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 (in 10 days) | Apply for the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral to defer next year's taxes |
| Dec 31 | If you move into a home and apply for homestead by Dec 31, you may qualify for homestead classification for taxes payable next year |
| Dec 31 | Apply for the disabled veterans' market value exclusion with the county assessor |
| May 15 | First half of Wright County real estate taxes due (postmarked by the 15th) |
| Aug 15 | Minnesota property tax refund due; you may still file up to one year late |
| Oct 15 | Second half of real estate taxes due; a penalty is added after the due date and grows the later you pay |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- Wright County 2026 final tax rates
- www.revenue.state.mn.us: homestead
- www.wrightcountymn.gov: Applying-for-Homestead-or-Relative-Homes
- www.revenue.state.mn.us: property-tax-refund
- www.revenue.state.mn.us: filing-property-tax-refund
- www.revenue.state.mn.us: property-tax-deferral-senior-citizens
Checked October 22, 2026. Every number here comes from the public sources listed, matched by our checker.
Rates change every year; this page shows when it was last checked. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.