The Town FilesLackawanna, New York
City in Erie County · population 19,949 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,700
- Household income
- $52,110
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 113 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 37.9
Lackawanna is a city of 19,949 people in Erie County, New York. The median home is worth $140,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of New York towns, more walkable than 90% of New York towns, more vibrant than 84% of New York towns.
How Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna is worth $140,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $52,110, which is more affordable than 55% of New York towns. Median rent is $872 a month. 56.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lackawanna | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $872 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $52,110 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Lackawanna
| People | Lackawanna | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Lackawanna
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 112.9 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lackawanna since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 20, 2017 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 31, 1985.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 26, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3590: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 466,138 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,971 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Lackawanna itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Lackawanna
5 public schools with 2,919 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOBAL CONCEPTS CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-12 | 858 | 10.6 |
| LACKAWANNA HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 645 | 10.9 |
| MARTIN ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2-5 | 570 | 10.0 |
| LACKAWANNA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 440 | 9.0 |
| TRUMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 406 | 9.7 |
Towns near Lackawanna
- Blasdell, NY1.5 mi · 2,539 people · home $170,200
- West Seneca, NY4.3 mi · 45,500 people · home $232,800
- Buffalo, NY5.3 mi · 278,349 people · home $164,200
- Sloan, NY5.5 mi · 3,775 people · home $146,900
- Hamburg, NY5.6 mi · 60,085 people · home $251,100
- Orchard Park, NY6.0 mi · 3,108 people · home $399,400
- Wanakah, NY6.3 mi · 3,137 people · home $195,000
- Orchard Park, NY6.5 mi · 29,686 people · home $360,700
Lackawanna questions
Is Lackawanna, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lackawanna scores better for retirees than 9% of New York towns and quieter than 7%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Lackawanna?
The median owner-occupied home in Lackawanna is valued at $140,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,110, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $872 a month.
What is the weather like in Lackawanna?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 112.9 inches of snow.
Does Lackawanna get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lackawanna since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 20, 2017. 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)