The Town FilesPortland, New York
Town in Chautauqua County · population 4,309 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,500
- Household income
- $66,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 120 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 38.9
Portland is a town of 4,309 people in Chautauqua County, New York. The median home is worth $139,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of New York towns, hipper than 84% of New York towns.
How Portland 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 Portland is worth $139,500, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $66,333, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $753 a month. 77.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portland | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,500 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $753 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $66,333 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.6% | — |
Who lives in Portland
| People | Portland | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 91.1% |
Weather in Portland
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 20.2°F. About 45.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 120.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 14, 2011 about 5.7 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 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 14, 2019.
Severe weather in Chautauqua County since 1996
Chautauqua County has been included in 24 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 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| December 22, 2014 | Snowstorm | DR-4204: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County had 46,319 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,960 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Portland itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Towns near Portland
- Westfield, NY6.7 mi · 2,910 people · home $102,600
- Pomfret, NY7.1 mi · 13,035 people · home $185,400
- Fredonia, NY8.2 mi · 9,585 people · home $192,500
- Chautauqua, NY9.2 mi · 4,009 people · home $189,300
- Dunkirk, NY10.0 mi · 12,743 people · home $94,700
- Westfield, NY10.0 mi · 4,553 people · home $114,400
- Ellery, NY13.6 mi · 4,122 people · home $235,900
- Sheridan, NY14.5 mi · 2,564 people · home $192,900
Portland questions
Is Portland, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portland scores better for retirees than 57% of New York towns and quieter than 59%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Portland?
The median owner-occupied home in Portland is valued at $139,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,333, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $753 a month.
What is the weather like in Portland?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 20.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.7 inches of precipitation a year and 120.1 inches of snow.
Does Portland get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 14, 2011. 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)