The Town FilesNiagara Falls, New York
City in Niagara County · population 48,671 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,300
- Household income
- $49,101
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 72 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 40.8
Niagara Falls is a city of 48,671 people in Niagara County, New York. The median home is worth $115,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 93% of New York towns, hipper than 93% of New York towns, more vibrant than 87% of New York towns.
How Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls is worth $115,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $49,101, which is more affordable than 72% of New York towns. Median rent is $823 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Niagara Falls | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $823 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $49,101 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Niagara Falls
| People | Niagara Falls | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Niagara Falls
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Niagara Falls since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 7, 1961 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 27, 1998.
Severe weather in Niagara County since 1996
Niagara County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2023 | Snowstorm | DR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 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 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Niagara County
Niagara County had 68,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,707 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Niagara Falls itself the ACS puts it at 9.6%.
Public schools in Niagara Falls
13 public schools with 7,547 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIAGARA FALLS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,142 | 15.8 |
| HARRY F ABATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2-6 | 702 | 16.7 |
| CATARACT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 534 | 14.1 |
| LASALLE PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 7-8 | 503 | 12.9 |
| HYDE PARK SCHOOL | PK-6 | 481 | 16.0 |
| BLONEVA BOND PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 449 | 14.5 |
| GASKILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL | 7-8 | 445 | 12.7 |
| GERALDINE J MANN SCHOOL | PK-6 | 425 | 17.0 |
| SEVENTY NINTH STREET SCHOOL | PK-6 | 417 | 15.4 |
| COLONIAL VILLAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 390 | 9.3 |
| MAPLE AVENUE SCHOOL | PK-6 | 383 | 17.4 |
| HENRY J KALFAS MAGNET SCHOOL | PK-3 | 338 | 16.1 |
Towns near Niagara Falls
- Niagara, NY2.3 mi · 7,903 people · home $146,200
- Lewiston, NY5.6 mi · 2,531 people · home $238,100
- Grand Island, NY5.8 mi · 21,389 people · home $327,000
- Wheatfield, NY6.6 mi · 18,638 people · home $314,900
- Lewiston, NY7.1 mi · 15,944 people · home $261,600
- Grandyle Village, NY7.8 mi · 4,805 people · home $227,300
- North Tonawanda, NY7.8 mi · 30,496 people · home $197,200
- Tonawanda, NY8.7 mi · 15,129 people · home $173,600
Niagara Falls questions
Is Niagara Falls, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Niagara Falls scores better for retirees than 4% of New York towns and quieter than 9%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Niagara Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Niagara Falls is valued at $115,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,101, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $823 a month.
What is the weather like in Niagara Falls?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 72.4 inches of snow.
Does Niagara Falls get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Niagara Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 7, 1961. 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)