The Town FilesGowanda, New York
Village in Cattaraugus County · population 2,513 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $96,400
- Household income
- $51,828
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 208 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 37.6
Gowanda is a village of 2,513 people in Cattaraugus County, New York. The median home is worth $96,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 72% of New York towns.
How Gowanda ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gowanda is worth $96,400, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $51,828, which is more affordable than 88% of New York towns. Median rent is $753 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gowanda | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,400 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $753 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $51,828 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Gowanda
| People | Gowanda | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Gowanda
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 53.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 208.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gowanda since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 6, 1968 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Cattaraugus County since 1996
Cattaraugus County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 22, 2014 | Snowstorm | DR-4204: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| July 8, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4180: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County had 27,671 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,047 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Gowanda itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Gowanda
3 public schools with 1,052 students, about 8.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOWANDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 450 | 8.7 |
| GOWANDA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 329 | 9.1 |
| GOWANDA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 273 | 7.0 |
Towns near Gowanda
- Collins, NY4.0 mi · 5,894 people · home $153,000
- North Collins, NY8.7 mi · 3,504 people · home $222,500
- Hanover, NY9.3 mi · 6,972 people · home $141,500
- Concord, NY13.2 mi · 8,316 people · home $219,300
- Silver Creek, NY13.2 mi · 2,617 people · home $125,400
- Eden, NY13.4 mi · 3,346 people · home $237,200
- Lake Erie Beach, NY13.5 mi · 3,467 people · home $162,500
- Eden, NY13.7 mi · 7,573 people · home $263,100
Gowanda questions
Is Gowanda, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gowanda scores better for retirees than 23% of New York towns and quieter than 48%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Gowanda?
The median owner-occupied home in Gowanda is valued at $96,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,828, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $753 a month.
What is the weather like in Gowanda?
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.7 inches of precipitation a year and 208.3 inches of snow.
Does Gowanda get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gowanda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 6, 1968. The typical New York town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)