The Town Files

Niagara, New York

Town in Niagara County · population 7,903 (2020 Census)

Map: where Niagara is in New YorkNiagara
Median home
$146,200
Household income
$56,645
Jan low / Jul high
17° / 81°
Snow a year
72 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
3
Median age
42.3

Niagara is a town of 7,903 people in Niagara County, New York. The median home is worth $146,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of New York towns.

How Niagara 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.

Niagara lifestyle rankings vs other New York townsRetirement14th pctFamilies17th pctQuiet51st pctWalkability53rd pctFirst-time buyers63rd pctYoung professionals31st pctVibrancy82nd pctHip & trendy16th pctCollege town5th pctUpscale2nd pctVacation homesbottomSeaside characterbottomCyclingbottomTransit50th pctDriving45th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Niagara is worth $146,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $56,645, which is more affordable than 59% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,077 a month. 76.6% of households own their home.

Niagara vs Niagara County vs typical New York townNiagaraNiagara CountyTypical New York townHome value$146,200$189,800$217,700Household income$56,645$69,633$80,740Monthly rent$1,077$899$1,080
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of New York towns with 500+ people.
HousingNiagaraTypical New York town
Median home value$146,200$217,700
Median rent$1,077$1,080
Median household income$56,645$80,740
Home value ÷ income2.6×2.8×
Homeownership76.6%79.5%
Median year built19671965
Seasonal / vacation homes0.4%—

Who lives in Niagara

PeopleNiagaraTypical New York town
Median age42.343.5
Age 65 and over23.0%20.4%
Under 1818.3%—
Bachelor's degree or higher17.0%30.4%
Below the poverty line21.3%9.3%
Veterans8.4%—
Born outside the U.S.3.6%—
Work from home5.7%11.1%
Average commute18.6 min26.0 min
Homes with broadband88.9%91.1%

Weather in Niagara

July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.

Niagara monthly temperatures and precipitation10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing32°17°Jan33°17°Feb41°25°Mar55°34°Apr68°46°May76°56°Jun81°61°Jul79°60°Aug73°52°Sep60°42°Oct47°32°Nov37°24°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue2.322.31.816.32.111.63.22.23.02.93.42.63.33.20.22.84.12.415.7
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Niagara Falls Intl Ap station (1.9 mi away); snow from Niagara Falls (2.1 mi).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Niagara 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 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 9, 2024.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Niagara by decade01950s21960s01970s01980s01990s02000s02010s12020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 27, 1998.

Severe weather in Niagara County since 1996

Storm events in Niagara County since 1996 by typeHail58Flood16High Wind81Lightning7Heavy Snow38Flash Flood38Frost/Freeze21Winter Storm33
NOAA Storm Events Database, Niagara County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 2 deaths recorded.

Niagara County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 15, 2023SnowstormDR-4694: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
November 20, 2022Winter StormEM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
March 20, 2020BiologicalDR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3434: Covid-19
November 14, 2017FloodDR-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 itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.

Largest industries in Niagara CountyHealth care & social assistan…10,199 jobs · $49,674Retail9,280 jobs · $36,256Manufacturing8,368 jobs · $79,879Hotels & restaurants7,705 jobs · $25,617Construction2,986 jobs · $64,691Administrative & support2,797 jobs · $64,207
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Niagara County, 2000–20230%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023Niagara 4.1%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Towns near Niagara

Niagara questions

Is Niagara, New York a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Niagara scores better for retirees than 14% of New York towns and quieter than 51%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).

How much does a house cost in Niagara?

The median owner-occupied home in Niagara is valued at $146,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,645, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,077 a month.

What is the weather like in Niagara?

July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 72.4 inches of snow.

Does Niagara get tornadoes?

3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Niagara since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 7, 1961. The typical New York town has had 5.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Niagara's Census boundary (GEOID 3606351033). Comparisons use the median of New York towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.