The Town FilesTonawanda Town, New York
Community in Erie County · population 57,431 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,200
- Household income
- $77,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.3
Tonawanda Town is a community of 57,431 people in Erie County, New York. The median home is worth $215,200, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of New York towns, hipper than 89% of New York towns, more walkable than 88% of New York towns.
How Tonawanda Town 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 Tonawanda Town is worth $215,200, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $77,679, which is more affordable than 52% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,102 a month. 73.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tonawanda Town | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,102 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $77,679 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Tonawanda Town
| People | Tonawanda Town | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 91.1% |
Weather in Tonawanda Town
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 40.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tonawanda Town since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 30, 1987 about 7.0 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 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 16, 2008.
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 Tonawanda Town itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near Tonawanda Town
- Tonawanda, NY0.1 mi · 72,636 people · home $213,900
- Kenmore, NY1.4 mi · 15,205 people · home $208,600
- Tonawanda, NY1.9 mi · 15,129 people · home $173,600
- Eggertsville, NY3.7 mi · 15,561 people · home $248,100
- Grandyle Village, NY4.0 mi · 4,805 people · home $227,300
- North Tonawanda, NY4.4 mi · 30,496 people · home $197,200
- University at Buffalo, NY4.6 mi · 6,798 people · home —
- Grand Island, NY4.9 mi · 21,389 people · home $327,000
Tonawanda Town questions
Is Tonawanda Town, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tonawanda Town scores better for retirees than 30% of New York towns and quieter than 18%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Tonawanda Town?
The median owner-occupied home in Tonawanda Town is valued at $215,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,679, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,102 a month.
What is the weather like in Tonawanda Town?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 79.8 inches of snow.
Does Tonawanda Town get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tonawanda Town since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 30, 1987. 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)